Scotland defender Jack Hendry has declared he is unafraid of facing Neymar as the national team prepares for a crucial World Cup group stage match against Brazil in Miami. The Scots currently sit third in the group after a win over Haiti and a loss to Morocco, meaning any point gained against Carlo Ancelotti's side would significantly boost their chances of progressing to the knockout stages.
Neymar's Return Bolsters Brazil
Brazil are set to be strengthened by the return of the legendary former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain winger Neymar, who arrived at the tournament injured but has now been passed fit. Al Ettifaq centre-back Hendry has faced Neymar once before, during his time at Club Brugge in the 2021 Champions League, and insists the prospect of facing him again presents "no problem".
"I'm quite comfortable coming up against Neymar and I look forward to it," Hendry told reporters in Miami. "It should be a really good battle. I think he got injured out in Saudi [while at Al Hilal]. He did his ACL which was unfortunate. Obviously, I'd have liked to have played against him more. Played against him [once] in the Champions League when he was at Paris Saint-Germain, so that was a good test. Obviously the front three at the time was Messi, Mbappe and Neymar, so it's not a bad front three, that. It was a good experience. Learnt a lot from these moments playing these top-calibre players, so I look forward to it and we'll see if he plays."
Ancelotti's Tactical Plan
Ancelotti has suggested that Neymar will play through the middle rather than on the flank should he feature against Scotland. It remains unclear if that will come to pass, but he will be bumped up the pecking order after Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury.
Speaking from Brazil's training camp, former West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta said Neymar's return had lifted the squad's spirits considerably. "We're all very happy to see him training and back on the pitch with us," Paqueta explained. "Neymar is a very important player for the Brazilian national team. He has an extraordinary history with this shirt and he can still help us a lot. We're glad he's back and we hope he'll be available as soon as possible to contribute to the team."
Of facing Scotland, Paqueta added: "We have great respect for Scotland, but we also know we need to play our game and follow what the coach asks of us. Regardless of the opponent, our goal in every match is to win."
Match Details
Brazil face Scotland in Miami on Wednesday, June 24, with kick-off at 11pm BST. The match will be a decisive test for both sides as they aim to secure a place in the next round.
