World Cup record winner
Former Bundesliga striker: “I wouldn’t have nominated him”
Updated June 10, 2026 – 11:02 amReading time: 2 minutes
Giovane Élber expects five-time world champions Brazil to exit early. He also criticizes Neymar’s nomination.
Former Brazilian international Giovane Élber gives Brazil little chance at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. In an interview with “Sport Bild” he sees the “Seleção” at most reaching the quarter-finals – and sharply criticizes Neymar’s nomination.
The qualification phase “didn’t go well,” said Élber. Three coaches in this period were too many. Élber: “Brazil can reach the quarter-finals. But in order to win the title, a lot of things would have to come together – and that doesn’t happen in such a short time.”
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He sees a ray of hope in coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian took over the team at the end of May 2025. “Which perhaps gives a little hope: under Ancelotti, the ‘Seleção’ is acting more as a team again.”
- Football World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada: You can find the complete World Cup schedule here
Neymar nomination? “The pressure was getting bigger and bigger”
Élber was unequivocal about Neymar’s nomination: “I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t have nominated him. Maybe Neymar will surprise me and play as well as he did a few years ago. But I don’t believe that.” For him, the striker is just “a marketing machine”.
Élber can understand why coach Carlo Ancelotti called him up anyway. “A large majority called for Neymar to be nominated. Even the President got involved and publicly spoke out in favor of it. The pressure on Ancelotti was increasing, so he couldn’t do anything else.”
Brazil will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C. The opening game against Morocco takes place on Sunday night.