Brazil and France national football teams go face each other for one big friendly match this Thursday for Gillette Stadium for Boston, USA. The match wey go start by 5pm Brazil time na one of the most anticipated international friendlies for recent years. Brazil wey dey prepare for 2026 FIFA World Cup go use this match test themselves against France wey dey number three for FIFA Men’s World Ranking.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti talk say France na quality team with speed and good attack. “France na quality team for every aspect. Dem get quality for front, speed. E dey very important for National Team to play with balance. After that, we dey focused on the quality of our own team, wey dey enormous. Brazil fit also play counterattack, with possession, and fit play very well,” Ancelotti talk for press conference Wednesday.
France star forward Kylian Mbappé avoid talk about which team be favorite. Instead, he praise Brazil football history. “You no fit ever be favorite against team wey get five stars for shirt, that one no possible. Brazil na greatest football nation, dem get five World Cups and plenty history. For us, na opportunity to play against Brazil and show our quality and wetin we fit do, to prepare ourselves to win World Cup this summer,” Mbappé talk to GE TV.
For the match, Brazil National Team go wear their new away kit for first time. The kit wey get blue color na partnership with Jordan Brand. This na first time Jordan Brand go appear for national team uniform. France too go debut their green kit for the match.
But one big name wey no go dey for the match na Neymar. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti no include am for squad for March international friendlies against France and Croatia. The decision dey largely because of Neymar physical condition as he still dey work to return to full fitness after recent injuries and ongoing muscle issues.
Neymar suffer serious knee injury after rupturing his ACL during match for 2023. The Brazilian star get injury while playing World Cup qualifier against Uruguay when he land awkwardly after challenge. Medical tests confirm torn anterior cruciate ligament with damage to meniscus, injury wey require surgery and long recovery period.
Even though Neymar don return to club action, Brazil staff choose caution. Ancelotti make am clear say only players wey dey 100% condition dem select for March friendlies. Neymar absence na precautionary instead of tactical decision. With 2026 FIFA World Cup dey come, Brazil priority na make sure Neymar fit return full strength instead of risk setback for friendly against France.
For Brazil squad, only center back Marquinhos remain for Orlando for treatment on hip pain. Besides France match, Brazil National Team go also face Croatia during this FIFA window on March 31. These two matches na last ones before World Cup squad announcement wey go happen May 18.
The officiating crew for Brazil vs France friendly go be American officials: Guido Gonzales Jr. as referee; Nick Uranga and Cory Richardson as assistant referees; Armando Villarreal as fourth official; and Tim Ford as VAR. The match go broadcast live on TV Globo, SporTV, GE TV, and Globoplay.
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