Brazil head coach Dorival Júnior admitted on Wednesday that Neymar's unexpected absence forced him to completely rethink his strategy for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match against the Colombians at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília, the coach explained that the team’s preparation revolved around the potential return of the No. 10, who was ruled out at the last minute due to a muscle injury.

Dorival forced to alter plans after Neymar’s withdrawal

"Everything was structured around his comeback, but in the end, he didn't recover, and we had to adjust the lineup, making some changes and adapting certain movements," the coach explained. Neymar's call-up had sparked great anticipation, as he hadn’t played for the national team since October 2023, when he suffered a severe knee injury.

After a brief stint in Saudi Arabian football, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star returned to Santos in January, hoping to regain his form. However, another injury has once again sidelined him from Canarinha. "We have to respect his situation and hope for a quick recovery," Dorival commented.

Despite facing criticism, the Brazilian coach defended his work with the team and insisted that Brazil has been improving, even if some people fail to see it. "Since I took over, we have never been inferior to our opponents, although we haven’t always dominated either," he noted. Confident in his project, Dorival believes positive results will come with time and consistency.