{"id":45648,"date":"2026-03-05T17:15:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T13:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/?p=45648"},"modified":"2026-03-05T15:47:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T11:47:10","slug":"ancelotti-neymar-national-team-call-up-rodrygo-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/ancelotti-neymar-national-team-call-up-rodrygo-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancelotti Weighs Neymar Call-Up Amid Rodrygo Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background: #f7fafc; padding: 15px;\">\n<p><strong>Quick Read<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>National team coach Carlo Ancelotti is considering calling up Neymar.<\/li>\n<li>Neymar&#8217;s potential call-up is for upcoming matches against France and Croatia.<\/li>\n<li>Rodrygo&#8217;s recent injury has increased Neymar&#8217;s chances of returning to the squad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Reports indicate that national team coach Carlo Ancelotti is actively considering a surprising call-up for star forward Neymar for the upcoming international matches against France and Croatia. This potential return to the squad is largely influenced by the recent injury sustained by fellow forward Rodrygo, opening a new window for Neymar to rejoin the national setup.<\/p>\n<h2>Ancelotti Weighs Neymar&#8217;s National Team Return<\/h2>\n<p>The prospect of Neymar rejoining the national team under Carlo Ancelotti&#8217;s leadership marks a significant development. Ancelotti, known for his pragmatic approach and ability to integrate star players, is reportedly evaluating Neymar&#8217;s fitness and readiness for high-stakes international competition. Neymar, a prolific scorer and creative force, has been a central figure in the national team for over a decade, though recent seasons have seen him contend with various injuries and a shift in his club career. Sources close to the national team suggest that Ancelotti&#8217;s decision would reflect a strategic move to leverage experienced talent during critical periods.<\/p>\n<h2>The Rodrygo Factor: Injury Paves Way for Veteran Forward<\/h2>\n<p>The immediate catalyst for Ancelotti&#8217;s consideration of Neymar is the unfortunate injury to Rodrygo. The young forward&#8217;s absence creates a void in the attacking lineup, particularly in wide areas or as a secondary striker. Rodrygo has been a consistent performer and a key part of the national team&#8217;s recent plans, demonstrating agility and goal-scoring prowess. His injury has compelled the coaching staff to explore experienced alternatives, with Neymar emerging as a prominent option given his proven track record and ability to perform under pressure on the international stage. This situation underscores the depth challenges faced by national teams, particularly when key players are sidelined.<\/p>\n<h2>Neymar&#8217;s Potential Impact on France and Croatia Matches<\/h2>\n<p>The upcoming fixtures against France and Croatia are significant challenges on the international calendar. Both nations represent top-tier opposition, demanding a squad with depth, experience, and tactical versatility. France, a perennial powerhouse with a formidable attack and midfield, and Croatia, known for their resilient midfield and tactical discipline, will test the national team&#8217;s capabilities. Neymar&#8217;s potential inclusion could provide a boost in offensive creativity, set-piece prowess, and big-game experience, which could be crucial in these high-profile encounters. His presence could also alleviate pressure on other key attackers, offering a different dimension to the team&#8217;s strategy and potentially unsettling opposing defenses.<\/p>\n<p><em>The consideration of Neymar&#8217;s return, particularly under the pragmatic leadership of Carlo Ancelotti and directly linked to Rodrygo&#8217;s injury, signals a potential shift in the national team&#8217;s immediate strategy. It suggests a prioritization of proven international experience and immediate impact over developing younger talent for these specific high-stakes matches, highlighting the coaching staff&#8217;s focus on securing optimal results against formidable European opponents.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>National team coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly considering a surprising call-up for Neymar. Rodrygo&#8217;s injury has influenced this decision ahead of matches.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":-1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow5Nm1DA:productID":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[50849,747,2055,1015,566,3119],"class_list":["post-45648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sport","tag-call-up","tag-carlo-ancelotti","tag-croatia","tag-france","tag-neymar","tag-rodrygo"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/neymar-football.jpg","_embedded":{"wp:featuredmedia":[{"id":-1,"source_url":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/neymar-football.jpg","media_type":"image","mime_type":"image\/jpeg"}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45648"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45648\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}