EXCLUSIVE: Roque Junior on why Brazil aren't a World Cup favourite and Neymar's influence

In this exclusive interview with Flashscore, the former player discusses Brazil's chances at the 2026 World Cup, highlighting Neymar's potential participation and the contribution of coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Having played at AC Milan for four seasons, Roque Junior knows well how the Italian coach's style works, as he was brought in to solve the constant ups and downs of Brazil.

Roque, Brazilian fans see Brazil as one of the favourites. Do you think recent World Cup failures have shaken the confidence of Brazilian supporters?

"It's hard to speak for so many people. In my opinion, I don't think Brazil goes in as one of the favourites. The history is huge because of the five titles. I think Brazil is always among the possible contenders for the title because of its history, both in this World Cup and in others.

"But if you look at it today, I don't think Brazil is one of the favourites. But it's hard to speak for the whole population; there are 220 million people."

What does the presence of Carlo Ancelotti, whom you know so well, bring to the Selecao? What kind of strategy can we expect from the team?

"He deals well with people, which is why he has won in so many different countries. That's an important point for dealing with a culture different from ours. I don't really know what to expect, because we've seen little so far.

"Given his mentality, being Italian, he cares a lot about the defensive side. He has worked with other cultures and adapts well to the characteristics of each player. He has this ability to lead, to connect with the players, and he has this defensive concern that comes naturally as an Italian."

Some say Brazil has lost a bit of its "jogo bonito" DNA lately. One theory is that Brazilian players leave the country too young. Do you agree with that?

"I think we've lost a bit of what our game used to be. I think it was a much more individual style, and that made players, both offensively and defensively, stronger individually in technical or even tactical aspects.

"We've lost that a bit; we've been reversing this idea, often bringing the style of play from Europe into Brazil.

"This was lost at the youth level. You see that today, if you look at the Selecao, we've always had great forwards, great midfielders who could make the difference. On Ancelotti's list, only Neymar has that level of quality and creativity. And we've always had players like that from midfield forward.

"We have one or another emerging as a forward, but mostly as wingers. We've also always had great centre-forwards, finishers. The youth system changed that even within our own league, and that's one of the reasons we have fewer creative players today."

Explain, please, for a foreigner... Does Vini Junior have the same reputation in Brazil as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, or even Neymar at his peak?

"It's hard to make those comparisons, but I think Vinicius has the kind of characteristics of a player who likes to dribble, which is reminiscent of the Brazilian style. It's a different characteristic from Ronaldo, for example. He's not at the same level as Ronaldo and Neymar. He's a key player at Real Madrid, but he still needs to develop to really make a difference for the Brazilian national team."

You touched on a point I'd like to explore further. Can we expect Brazil to play attacking football or take a more pragmatic approach at this World Cup?

"It's hard to say. We've had several coaches, Ancelotti has just arrived... We don't have players where you can say: "they have a more attacking profile." We don't have many players today who can really make a difference offensively. So you look at a team that's not very attacking, without great players who can tip the balance.

"We have a coach who, in his previous work, tries to get the best out of each player; he tries to bring these players together and create a playing model that enhances their characteristics.

"He has the Italian culture, more defensive, doesn't like to concede goals. If you score one, you win. But what to expect is hard to say. We'll have to wait and see what happens."

To wrap up, there was a lot of debate about whether Neymar should go to the World Cup or not. What can he bring to this Brazilian team? How can he help?

"I think he has undeniable quality, even though he hasn't played regularly for a long time. When you have a run of games, you gain more confidence and improve.

"In recent years, he hasn't managed to be consistent. That's a worrying side. At the World Cup, it'll be almost two months between training and matches. It'll be important for him to be physically and mentally well. Knowing it's a short period, he'll need to stay focused to give his best.

"He needs to understand that he's part of a group and can help with his ability, if he's physically fit. I think that's important, so he doesn't have a negative influence. We saw in the last World Cup an incident with Richarlison that shows how important this is.

"Richarlison gets the ball and shoots at goal. And Neymar complains to him. When the first half ends, the first thing Richarlison does is go to Neymar and apologise. Then, when the second half starts, every time Richarlison got the ball, he looked for Neymar. So, for me, that's something to watch out for. Neymar and the other players need to understand this.

"Sometimes I'll take a shot and someone might complain. But I can also complain back, and that, in a way, can influence the other player not to make a certain play later. It's important for Neymar to understand his role, it's important to have players who understand their roles, but who also have personality at that moment. Because that's fundamental for a team to win. In moments like this, you need players with personality and also a Neymar who is a positive leader, not a negative one, because that has a direct impact.

"If it's positive, what Richarlison would have done is try other plays and not just look for Neymar. If you influence negatively, you end up making it so that, at the decisive moment, the best decision isn't made. I think that's something that needs attention, from Neymar, the other players, and Ancelotti as well."