Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed why Neymar was left unused during the Seleção’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 despite the experienced forward being available on the bench.
The five-time world champions needed a stoppage-time strike from Gabriel Martinelli to edge past a resilient Japanese side after Casemiro had cancelled out Kaishu Sano’s first-half opener.
While Brazil eventually secured qualification to the quarter-finals, many supporters were left wondering why Neymar was not introduced, especially with the match hanging in the balance.
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Addressing the decision after the final whistle, Ancelotti explained that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star was being preserved for extra time rather than regular time.
“I was waiting for extra time,” Ancelotti said. “I discussed it with Neymar before the match. If we hadn’t equalised, he would have come on around the 60th or 65th minute. But once we got back into the game, I didn’t want to change the team’s structure because we had control.”
The Italian tactician’s decision ultimately proved to be the right one. Following Casemiro’s equaliser early in the second half, Brazil began to dominate possession, moved the ball quicker through midfield and forced Japan deeper into their own half.
Rather than making further attacking changes, Ancelotti trusted the players already on the pitch to complete the comeback.
That patience paid off in the sixth minute of added time when Bruno Guimarães slipped a perfectly weighted pass into Gabriel Martinelli, who kept his composure before curling a superb finish beyond the Japanese goalkeeper to send Brazil into the last 16.
Ancelotti’s substitutions also played a significant role in the turnaround. Endrick injected pace and physicality after replacing Lucas Paquetá at halftime, stretching Japan’s defensive line and creating more space for Vinicius Junior and the midfield runners. Martinelli then made an instant impact from the bench by scoring the decisive goal.
Neymar’s limited involvement at the tournament has largely been influenced by fitness concerns. The 34-year-old missed Brazil’s opening two group-stage matches with a calf injury before making his first appearance in the final group fixture against Scotland, where he featured for only the closing stages.
So far, the Santos forward has accumulated just 14 minutes of football in the competition, highlighting Ancelotti’s cautious approach to managing one of Brazil’s most experienced players.
The coach’s current attacking hierarchy also appears to have shifted. With Raphinha sidelined through injury, youngster Rayan has been trusted in the starting XI, while Endrick and Martinelli have consistently been preferred as attacking options from the bench.
Their performances against Japan justified that decision, as both substitutes helped transform Brazil’s attacking threat during the second half.
Although Neymar remains one of the squad’s most influential figures because of his experience, leadership and quality in the final third, Ancelotti appears determined not to rush him back after injury.
With Brazil still chasing a sixth World Cup title, the veteran forward could yet have a decisive role to play in the knockout stages, but for now, the Italian coach is prioritising balance, intensity and tactical discipline over reputation.