Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari not worried about Neymar's fitness

Neymar

Rio de Janeiro, April 25 Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says the form and fitness of Neymar ahead of the World Cup doesn’t worry him at all.

“It’s the team that isn’t doing well. He is part of a group. In the national team, he will perform like he always does. I spoke with him and his father and I can say that he doesn’t worry me at all,” Xinhua quoted Scolari as saying.

Despite having struggled with form and injury, Neymar has scored 17 goals in 44 appearances for Barcelona since joining the Catalan club last June.

“If you went to Barcelona you would see that Neymar is fine,” Scolari said.

Scolari also offered support to midfielder Paulinho, often relegated to the substitutes’ bench for Tottenham this year, and striker Fred, who has recently returned from injury for Fluminense.

“I’m not worried about Neymar, Paulinho, Fred. They are going to show that with what they do on the pitch,” Scolari said.

“The national team has different attributes to the clubs where they play.”

Brazil have been drawn in the World Cup Group A alongside Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon.

They will begin their campaign against Croatia at Sao Paulo’s Itaquerao stadium June 12.