A defeat to France, Raphinha sent home injured for five weeks, Vini Jr doubtful, and a stadium full of supporters calling for an absent Neymar. This was supposed to be Brazil’s final tune-up before the World Cup. It turned into something far more alarming.
The Last Rehearsal Before the World Cup — And It Went Wrong Immediately
This international break carried more weight than most. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicking off in just three months, Brazil’s back-to-back fixtures against France and Croatia were meant to serve as Carlo Ancelotti’s final dress rehearsal — a chance to sharpen combinations, test his best eleven, and send a message to the rest of the world that the Seleção are ready.
Instead, what unfolded at Foxborough Stadium was one of the most uncomfortable nights of Ancelotti’s still-young tenure as Brazil head coach. The Seleção were beaten 2-1 by France, and tellingly, that defeat came despite France playing with ten men for a significant portion of the match after Dayot Upamecano’s red card. Brazil couldn’t capitalise. Couldn’t impose themselves. And when the frustration in the stands reached boiling point, the crowd didn’t call for Ancelotti to change his tactics. They called for Neymar — a player who wasn’t even in the squad.
Ancelotti, asked about it afterwards, gave a response that said everything about his mood: “We should talk about those who were here.”
Raphinha’s Injury: A Blow That Goes Beyond Brazil
The night against France cost Brazil more than just points. Raphinha, their most dynamic wide player this season, picked up a biceps femoris injury to his right hamstring during the match and has been sent back to Barcelona to begin treatment. According to the official FC Barcelona injury statement, the winger will be sidelined for approximately five weeks.
That timeline is devastating on two fronts. It rules Raphinha out of Brazil’s upcoming fixture against Croatia. More critically for Barcelona, it rules him out of their Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid — arguably the biggest match of the club’s season.
What makes this even harder to stomach for the Catalan club is the manner in which it happened. Raphinha had reportedly flagged to the Brazil coaching staff before kick-off that he was experiencing discomfort in his hamstring. He was selected anyway, for a friendly, thousands of miles from home, in the middle of a gruelling season. Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s head coach, is said to be furious — and given the circumstances, it is difficult to argue with him.
Vini Jr, Rodrygo, Estevão: A Depleted Attack With No Easy Fix
Raphinha is not the only casualty. Vinicius Jr, Brazil’s most dangerous attacking weapon, is nursing muscular discomfort following the intensity of the France match and was absent from collective training on Saturday. He is expected to miss the starting lineup against Croatia, leaving Ancelotti without his two most influential forwards in the same week.
The problems did not start in Foxborough, either. Rodrygo was ruled out before the camp even began, while Estevão — the brilliant young Chelsea forward who has been one of the brightest emerging talents in world football — also missed the call-up through injury. With Marquinhos managing a hip problem that kept him out against France and leaving him uncertain for Croatia, the squad Ancelotti has actually been able to work with barely resembles the group he needs to prepare.
The entire purpose of this window was to build tactical cohesion before the World Cup. With half his first-choice players either absent or managing injuries, that objective has been almost entirely impossible to achieve.
The Neymar Question That Won’t Go Away
And then there is Neymar. The question that dominates every press conference, follows every squad announcement, and now apparently fills entire stadium chants. For a look at just how central Neymar has been to Neymar’s transfer history and the Brazilian identity over the years, the scale of his cultural weight is hard to overstate.
Marquinhos, speaking publicly, made his position clear: he believes Neymar can make it back and wants him in the squad. “I sincerely think it will happen,” the captain said. “As teammates, as Brazilians and supporters, we want him at this World Cup.”
Ancelotti has been more guarded, repeating his position that this is a physical evaluation rather than a technical one. “I observe everything, I hear everything,” he said. “My role is to make decisions. Neymar is doing well with the ball. He needs to improve physically.” It is a careful, measured answer — but when your stadium is chanting an absent player’s name during a defeat, measured answers only go so far.
A Window of Noise Around Brazil’s Summer Plans
Beyond the injuries and the Neymar debate, there is a wider picture of movement and speculation building around Brazil’s squad as the World Cup approaches. Several players linked with summer transfers could see their club situations influence their availability and form heading into the tournament. For the latest on every deal involving Brazilian stars and the clubs around them, our transfer rumours section tracks every development as it happens.
Three Months to Fix a Broken Window
The World Cup is ninety days away. Brazil have the squad depth, when fully fit, to compete with anyone. But right now, Ancelotti is managing a crisis rather than building a football team. The Brazil that showed up against France did not look like World Cup 2026 contenders. They looked disjointed, short of key figures, and psychologically unsettled by the noise surrounding Neymar’s potential return.
The definitive squad list is due to be announced on May 18th. Between now and then, Ancelotti needs his players fit, focused, and back on the training pitch. He needs the Neymar question resolved one way or the other. And he needs a performance against Croatia that gives both his squad and the Brazilian public something to believe in.
The last dress rehearsal did not go to plan. The real show starts in June — and right now, Brazil are still learning their lines.
Sports journalist, content writer and passionate football lover.
