Injured Neymar could miss Brazil's World Cup opener

Neymar could miss Brazil's World Cup opener, as he has been ruled out for "two to three weeks" with a calf injury. This means he will not play in the home friendly against Panama on Sunday and also against Egypt in a friendly in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, 6 June.

Brazil begins their World Cup Group C campaign on 13 June against Morocco in New Jersey, then face Haiti in Philadelphia on 19 June and Scotland in Miami on 24 June. Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed Neymar's injury at a news conference and said: "Neymar underwent all the medical tests, which concluded with an MRI scan revealing a grade two calf injury, not just swelling. He is expected to be cleared in two to three weeks." Neymar, who has scored 79 goals in 128 international appearances, had joined the team on Tuesday but missed Wednesday's first training session and was sent for tests after complaints of swelling in his right calf.

The diagnosis differs from that presented by his Santos club doctor prior to the squad announcement. Rodrigo Zogaib had stated the problem was merely swelling and that Neymar would arrive fit to begin training. Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti had already been without Arsenal defender Gabriel and forward Gabriel Martinelli for the Panama game because of their involvement in the Champions League final on 30 May against Paris St-Germain. Defender Marquinhos is also unavailable for the same reason. Ancelotti, 66, who was appointed by Brazil last year, said at the time: "We spent the entire year analysing Neymar. We realised that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition."