Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber’s World Cup dream is over before it truly began. The 24-year-old, who had been sidelined since mid-March with a groin problem, was ruled out of the Netherlands’ campaign on Monday after failing to recover in time. He had returned for the second half of the Champions League final on 30 May – his first appearance since a 2-0 win over Everton on 14 March – but the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said he had “not recovered sufficiently” to take part “in a medically responsible manner”. Timber, capped 23 times by his country, has been replaced by Lutsharel Geertruida, 25, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig. The Netherlands face Japan in their Group F opener on 14 June.
For Brazil, a different kind of anxiety surrounds their star forward. Neymar, the 34-year-old all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, is racing against time to be fit for their opening World Cup group game against Morocco on 13 June. A scan on Monday showed “good progress in his treatment, within expected parameters”, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation, after a grade-two muscle tear in his calf sidelined him for two to three weeks. He has missed Brazil’s two warm-up friendlies – a 6-2 win against Panama and a 2-1 victory over Egypt – and the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain playmaker, who returned to Santos in early 2025, has been dogged by injuries since rupturing his ACL and meniscus in October 2023.
“Arsenal's Jurrien Timber ruled out of Netherlands' World Cup; Brazil's Neymar making progress from calf injury.”
But Neymar’s inclusion in the squad is a gamble by manager Carlo Ancelotti, who left out proven strikers such as Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus despite his 19 goals in 64 appearances for Brazil. Jesus, a key figure in Brazil’s 2019 Copa América triumph, was dropped alongside Philippe Coutinho (21 goals), Richarlison (20), Roberto Firmino (17) and Chelsea’s Joao Pedro. Ancelotti debated “most” over Jesus, according to the Mirror, and the decision may define his reign. Brazil, five-time winners who have not won the World Cup since 2002, are not among the standout favourites, but in Brazil, they always expect to win – and there is never any room for excuses.