Scotland vs. Brazil: Matheus Cunha, Neymar, Raphinha discussed ahead of blockbuster 2026 World Cup fixture

Ahead of Brazil's clash with Scotland astatine the 2026 World Cup, Sports Mole's Football Editor Matt Law discusses the existent authorities of affairs for the South American nation.

Matt Law, Football Editor: "Brazil are ones to watch"

Cunha is among 19 players present to person scored a brace astatine this World Cup, which is rather an absorbing improvement for the Golden Boot race. 

Lots of the large players that you'd expect to bash good are doing well. Messi and Jonathan David from Canada are astatine the apical astatine the infinitesimal with 3 goals each (now 5 for Messi). 

Cunha's archetypal extremity was a spot fortuitous, but the 2nd was a truly astute finish. He took his accidental coming into the broadside for Igor Thiago, who didn't get a infinitesimal and volition astir apt conflict to get backmost successful the broadside now. That shows the brutality of planetary football. 

Vinicius Jr. besides got connected the scoresheet, truthful it was a coagulated show from Brazil. I was afloat expecting them to triumph and I predicted 4-0 successful the preview, truthful I wasn't a cardinal miles off. 

If Raphinha is acceptable for the second stages, the operation of Vini Jr., Cunha, and Raphinha is wherever you'd expect Brazil to settee successful attack. 

Cunha's quality to driblet heavy and Vini Jr.'s inclination to chopped successful and find the backmost of the nett are already connected show, with 2 goals for Vini Jr. already this summer. 

Brazil are ones to watch, with evident weaknesses astatine fullback and perchance ageing players elsewhere, but they've inactive got unthinkable endowment that volition instrumentality them acold successful this tournament. 

It's hard to propulsion Neymar into the broadside astatine this stage. Rayan would beryllium the 1 to travel into the side, having had a truly bully play astatine Bournemouth. 

Martinelli is different enactment who tin play successful those wide areas. There is simply a batch of feeling that Neymar doesn't merit to beryllium there, but helium is simply a planetary superstar and millions of radical astir the satellite would beryllium buzzing to spot him astatine the World Cup. 

He was a fantastic subordinate and has been, but whether he's fantastic present is astir apt a antithetic conversation. I would inactive similar to spot him play astatine this World Cup arsenic I deliberation helium tin connection thing successful those abbreviated moments disconnected the bench. 

The latest reports connected Raphinha are that the wounded is not arsenic superior arsenic archetypal thought. There are nary suggestions astatine this signifier that he'll person to permission the squad oregon that he's successful information of missing the remainder of the tournament, which was the fearfulness erstwhile helium archetypal got injured. 

There is nary authoritative connection yet from Brazil connected however his wounded volition develop. There is prime successful those wide areas, but Rayan would beryllium the 1 I'd spell for successful the last third.