24/06/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | JUNE 24, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP

From Narey to Neymar Brazil and Scotland meet again at World Cup F ROM David Narey’s toepoke to the opening game of France 98, World Cup clashes between Brazil and Scotland became a sta ple at the tournament towards the end of make history by qualifying for the knockout phase for the first time, after starting their campaign with a 1-0 win over Haiti in Boston. That was followed by a 1-0 defeat against return for a possible game in the last 16, which starts in two weeks’ time. Brazil must adapt to loss of injured Raphinha, says Paqueta BRAZIL must find a way to overcome the loss of injured star Raphinha as quickly as possible, midfielder Lucas Paqueta said om Monday, as Carlo Ancelotti’s side pre pare for their final group game of the World Cup against Scotland. “We are all sad, especially Rafa, sible to be back as soon as possible. But in terms of how important he is, well, I don’t think I need to say anything. “He has had an incredible couple of seasons and has been getting better and better for the national team, so I think that when any player of that importance is missing you are going to have to restruc ture quickly.” A starter in both of the Selecao’s games so far, he was replaced by the young Bournemouth forward Rayan when he came off late in the opening half against the Haitians. “We all know his characteristics, his qualities, his pace, his ability to create space and his finishing ability, so I think we because of the little setback with this injury, but he can count on all of us for support. We are all by his side,” Paqueta, of Flamengo, told reporters at Brazil’s World Cup base in New Jersey. “He is a dedicated kid, and I am sure he will do everything possible and impos Raphinha’s season with Barcelona was regularly impacted by problems with his right hamstring, and he has missed a total of 24 matches for club and country since the campaign began. are losing a very important player,” added ex-West Ham United player Paqueta. “But we are not paying too much attention to how long he is going to be out.

“We just hope he is back as soon pos sible.” Neymar is being tipped to feature against Scotland after overcoming the injury which has stopped him from featur ing at the tournament so far. If Brazil’s all-time top scorer does play, it will be his first appearance for his coun try since October 2023. “He is a very important player for the national team, who has a marvellous his tory with us and can still help us a lot,” Paqueta said of the 34-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain for ward. – AFP ‘Neymar?

No problem’ SCOTLAND defender Jack Hendry said on Monday he is not worried about the chal lenge of playing against Neymar if Brazil’s all-time top scorer is fit for tomorrow’s World Cup encounter. “Yeah, no problem,” Hendry told reporters when asked about the possibility. “I’m quite comfortable, obviously, coming up against Neymar, and I look forward to it. It should be a really good battle, and if he does play, then I look forward to it.” Hendry, 31, played against Neymar in the Champions League in 2021 when the Scot was on the books of Club Brugge and the Brazilian was with Paris St Germain. The encounter ended 1-1. The Scot represents

“The player will follow an intensive treatment protocol under the supervision of the Brazilian national team’s medical team, with the goal of recovering and returning to action as soon as possi ble,” the CBF said in a statement. The 34-year-old, his country’s all-time record scorer, was called up by coach Carlo Ancelotti despite not having appeared for Brazil since October 2023 due to injury. He then, almost inevitably, suffered another injury to his right calf which has kept him out of the team’s two games so far in the United States, but the ex-Paris Saint-Germain superstar is now ready to play. “We saw the quality he has in training, we were speechless,” said Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli yes terday.

Morocco, but a draw here will almost certainly take them through as one of the eight best third-placed sides – in fact they could even yet advance with a defeat, and three points. “If there’s a nation to play to get to the next round, we want to do it against these type of teams, so it’s going to be a great spectacle,” added Hendry. “Scotland against Brazil in Miami to make some history is something you dream of,” said John McGinn, who was just three when the nations last met at the tournament. The fixture perhaps doesn’t have quite the same aura for Brazil, the record five-time World Cup winners.

the last century and the teams renew acquain tances in a decisive final group game tomorrow (6am Malaysian time). The Group C encounter in Miami will be the fifth meeting of the nations on the biggest stage, making it one of the most played fixtures in tourna ment history. Not the most played outright, because Brazil have faced Sweden seven times including in the 1958 final and in the 1994 semifinals. There have also been seven meetings of Argentina and Germany or West Germany, three of which have come in finals. But the Selecao and the Scots faced off four times at World Cups between 1974 and 1998, all in the group stage – after all, Scotland have never gone beyond the first round. Narey’s strike in Seville in 1982 remains an iconic World Cup moment, but it did not really have the desired effect as it sim ply stirred the Brazil of Socrates and Zico to life – they came back to win 4-1. In 1974 in West Germany, Kenny Dalglish’s

They are just focused on getting the job done and advancing to the next round in the best possible position in the group – a win will be required to make sure of that, as they and Morocco both have four points so far. Brazil are without Barcelona forward Raphinha due to injury but this could be the occasion for Neymar to finally make his return for the Selecao . The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) did not say how long he

“When you look at the shape he is in you can see that he is desperate to get out there and we are delighted to have him.” Brazil’s last meeting with Scotland was a friendly in 2011 in London, in which Neymar scored twice on just his third cap. Fullback Aaron Hickey remains a doubt for

Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia but did not come head to head with Neymar during his time in the kingdom

after the Brazilian played only seven

Scotland held the Brazil of Jairzinho and Rivellino to a goalless draw, and were ulti mately eliminated on goal difference. A late Muller goal gave the Brazilians a 1-0 victory in Turin at Italia 90, and in 1998 Scotland prevented Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto from

games for Al Hilal during an injury

Scotland after not play ing against Morocco. – AFP/Reuters

ravaged spell. – Reuters

would be sidelined for, but Brazilian website Globo Esporte reported he could be fit to

scoring only for Tom Boyd’s own goal to decide the con test 2-1 in favour of the World Cup holders. So can Scotland upset the odds and finally beat the Brazilians at the World Cup? “Brazil have got an amazing history and we obviously want to disrupt that on Wednesday,” said defender Jack Hendry, whose namesake Colin cap tained Scotland in that 1998 game. Scotland are hoping to

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Steve Clark

Carlo Ancelotti

Atlas Lions smell opportunity

grant community in the country and three Dutch-born players in their squad. Haiti were the first team eliminated from the expanded 48-team tourna ment after losing to Scotland and then Brazil but promised there would be no drop in intensity from their team. After more than a half-century since they last participated in the World Cup in 1974, coach Sebastien Migne said it would be unthinkable to treat their final outing as a meaningless fixture. “Do we have the right to neglect a match? Obviously not,” Migne said. – Reuters

“That’s the beauty of the World Cup, all the different styles of teams you go up against and have to deal with,” he said. But if they want to usurp Brazil and take top place, Morocco will have to be on the all-out attack. The Group C winner takes on the runners-up in Group F, and the second place finisher in Group C is up against the top side in Group F, where the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden are all in the running. A meeting with the Netherlands would have added resonance for the Moroccans, who have a large immi

Cup in Qatar, where they became the first African and Arab country to reach the semifinals. Brazil will be playing Scotland at the same time in Miami, and if both the five time world champions and Morocco win their last group games, then top place in Group C will be decided on goal difference. A 3-0 win for the Brazilians against Haiti in Philadelphia on Saturday gives them a better goal difference than Morocco, whose coach Mohamed Ouahbi said the Caribbean team would pose a difficult challenge despite their early exit.

MOROCCO will be chasing not only vic tory but also goals against already eliminated Haiti in Atlanta tomorrow, eager to finish top of their World Cup group ahead of Brazil. It would be a statement success for the North Africans, who have four points from their opening two Group C games and made an immediate impression when they had Brazil on the back foot in their drawn first match at the tourna ment in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Morocco, who then beat Scotland in Boston on Saturday, have picked up where they left off from the last World