Brazil hope to have Neymar back for last-16 clash, Cameroon eyeing upset

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
More
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Brazil hope to have Neymar back for last-16 clash, Cameroon eyeing upset
Updated
Brazil are expected to shuffle their pack for the match with Cameroon
Brazil are expected to shuffle their pack for the match with Cameroon
Reuters
Brazil are hopeful they will have Neymar (30) back for the World Cup knockout stage as his recovery from an ankle injury is going well, assistant coach Cleber Xavier said on Thursday.

The Paris St-Germain forward was again absent from training on Thursday as coach Tite prepared his team to face Cameroon in their final Group G match on Friday.

With their ticket already booked for the next round after two wins, Tite will rotate his squad to keep some players fresh for a likely last-16 match on Monday if they finish top.

Defenders Alex Sandro (31) and Danilo (31), who are also recovering from injuries, were part of the group which trained on Thursday and should be available for the knockout stage.

"They are in the process of evolution. Our focus today is the match against Cameroon and then we will enter the decision-making process," Xavier told a news conference.

"There is already a well-designed plan from our medical staff for the return of the injured players. They will be re-evaluated on Saturday."

Juventus left back Alex Sandro suffered a hip injury in the 1-0 win over Switzerland while Neymar and Juve right back Danilo picked up ankle injuries in Brazil's opening 2-0 win over Serbia.

Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar has given no specific timetable for their return.

Brazil will top the group with a draw or win. If they lose and Switzerland beat Serbia, top spot will be decided on goal difference.

The Swiss are second on three points, two ahead of Serbia and Cameroon, and will go through with a victory.

Serbia and Cameroon must win to have any chance of progressing and if they both succeed then second place would be decided by goal difference.

Song eyes fairytale win for Cameroon

Cameroon's coach Rigobert Song is expecting an "absolute scorcher" of a game against Brazil on Friday, a match he believes his victory-starved side is capable of winning having beaten the five-time World Cup winners before.

"Cameroon have beaten Brazil before, yes. So it's not completely out there," Song said.

"Obviously, this Brazilian team will be beautiful to me. I have so much respect for Brazil, but in football, there are realities that are slightly different," Song added.

"Sometimes there is an upset, anything is possible. And that is why I am firmly convinced that we are capable.

"Tomorrow will be a game that will be an absolute scorcher ... We've already beaten them and we can beat them again."

It will be a tall order, with Cameroon having not reached the last 16 in more than three decades.

The African side lost all their group games in 2010 and 2014 and have been beaten twice by Brazil at the World Cup.

Cameroon's sole competitive win over Brazil was at the Confederations Cup in 2003 in France.

Song said he still believed a "beautiful victory" was possible.

"We know that it will be no walk in the park for us tomorrow. But it will be a highly exciting game," he said.

"We're ready for the fight. We're ready to give everything we've got."

21+ | COMPETENT REGULATOR EEEP | RISK OF ADDICTION & LOSS OF PROPERTY | KETHEA HELPLINE: 210 9237777 | PLAY RESPONSIBLY & SAFELY |

France gouvernement

Les jeux d’argent et de hasard peuvent être dangereux : pertes d’argent, conflits familiaux, addiction…

Retrouvez nos conseils sur joueurs-info-service.fr (09-74-75-13-13, appel non surtaxé)

Do you want to withdraw your consent to display betting ads?
Yes, change settings