Carlo Ancelotti told Brazil ‌fans to keep their feet on the ground after Neymar made ​his long-awaited World Cup return and Vinicius Jr sparkled again ⁠as the five-times champions swept Scotland aside 3-0 on Wednesday to finish top of Group C.

After an underwhelming 1-1 draw with Morocco in their opener, Brazil have clicked into ‌gear with successive wins, and Ancelotti said his side were becoming the solid, collective unit he wants for the knockout rounds.

“We’re now ‌playing as a team, that was the aim,” Ancelotti told a ‌press ⁠conference. “We’re not perfect, we need to improve a few things – we ⁠could be quicker when we’re in possession.

“I’m happy because the team has improved since the opening match. Being solid is very important now that we’ve reached the knockout stages.”

Brazil will face ​the second-placed team from Group F, ‌with the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden possible opponents in the Round of 32.

Roar for Neymar

The biggest roar in Miami came for Neymar, who played his first minutes for Brazil after almost three years out of the side. Ancelotti ‌said the 34-year-old had earned his chance after returning to full fitness.

“He ​got the chance to play because he deserved it, he worked hard to recover,” Ancelotti said. “I think that in this ⁠World Cup, given his qualities, he can help the team. He played for just a few minutes, but he played well.

“Neymar doesn’t need any motivation to play, ‌no player needs motivation to wear the Brazil shirt. He’s 34-years-old and still has the same passion as a young boy.”

Praise for Vinicius

Vinicius also drew praise from the Italian after he scored twice and dazzled up and down the left wing.

“Vini is in great form at the moment and the team helps him a lot,” Ancelotti said. “He can play in various positions, both on the ‌inside and on the wing.

“It’s very rewarding to see Vinicius like this, I had no doubt ​he could reach this level. I wasn’t the one who discovered Vini, he’s a top-class player, one of the best in ⁠the world.”

Not getting carried away

Ancelotti said Brazil had achieved their first objective by topping the group but ⁠warned against getting carried away.

“I haven’t set a target for how far we can go,” he said. “The aim isn’t just to play ‌well, the aim is to win. A manager is judged by victory or defeat, not by whether the team plays well or badly.”

Asked what ​he would tell an increasingly excited Brazilian public, Ancelotti smiled and said: “Stay calm.”

Vinícius Júnior scored two goals, Matheus Cunha also scored and five-time World Cup champion Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 on Wednesday (June 24, 2026) to advance the knockout round.

Vinícius, who has a goal in all three of Brazil’s group matches, scored in the seventh minute and again just before halftime, tying Kylian Mbappé with of France with four goals, one behind Lionel Messi’s tournament-leading five.

Neymar entered as a substitute in the 76th, making his debut after a right calf injury sidelined him for Brazil’s first two matches. The majority-Brazilian crowd at Hard Rock Stadium began chanting his name midway through the second half as he got off the bench and began doing warmup sprints on the sideline, and fans roared as he trotted onto the pitch.

Neymar is Brazil’s career scoring leader with 79 goals in 130 international appearances. The 34-year-old forward appeared in each of the past three World Cups for Brazil, scoring eight goals.

Scotland is playing in its first World Cup since 1998 and has become one of the more interesting teams of the tournament. Its dedicated fans, known as the Tartan Army, brought a party atmosphere to the Boston and Miami areas ahead of their team’s matches.

Scotland has not advanced past the group stage in nine tries.

Neymar is expected to return from a right calf injury and play for Brazil in its final World Cup group match, coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

Neymar missed Brazil’s first two games of the tournament, including Friday’s 3-0 win over Haiti.

Ancelotti said Neymar would go through individual training on Saturday, train with the team on Monday and “will be available” for Brazil when it closes Group C play against Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Neymar is Brazil’s career scoring leader with 79 goals in 129 international appearances.

The 34-year-old midfielder has yet to practice in full sessions with the team since reporting to Brazil’s squad while nursing the calf injury.

Looking to play in his fourth World Cup, Neymar had tests on his calf last Monday to determine the progress of the injury that he sustained while playing for Brazilian club Santos on May 17.

There was widespread debate in Brazil over whether Neymar, whose first World Cup was on home soil in 2014, should have been called up for the tournament. He has struggled since returning from tearing the ACL in his left knee in October 2023 in a World Cup qualifier.

Neymar has four goals and two assists in eight matches for Santos this year.