Brazil’s Neymar, heart, celebrates his penalty kick aim with teammates throughout the World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match between Brazil and South Korea, on the Training Metropolis Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Picture/Ariel Schalit)
Preview: Neymar appeared to have totally recovered from his ankle harm and was anticipated to return to Brazil’s beginning lineup in opposition to South Korea within the spherical of 16 on the World Cup on Monday.
A smiling Neymar skilled with teammates on Sunday in a follow session that was partially open to media. He appeared to not be bothered by the harm that stored him out of Brazil’s earlier two matches.
Coach Tite had stated earlier within the day that Neymar would play if all went properly within the group’s last coaching session earlier than the match in opposition to South Korea.
The Brazil ahead missed two group matches after injuring his proper ankle within the group’s opening win over Serbia. He was again coaching for the primary time on Saturday.
Tite stated he deliberate to make use of Neymar from the opening whistle as an alternative of in its place if he’s wholesome sufficient to play.
“I want to make use of my finest participant from the beginning,” Tite stated. “It’s the coach who has to make that call and tackle that accountability.”
Tite stated left again Alex Sandro is out due to a hip harm, however proper again Danilo shall be accessible after recovering from a proper ankle harm.
Brazil struggled with out the playmaker however nonetheless received its group regardless of a loss to Cameroon within the final match.
This would be the first time Brazil and South Korea meet in an official match, with the Brazilians profitable six of their seven friendlies, together with 5-1 in June. South Korea’s solely win got here in 1999.
South Korea superior in Qatar because of a dramatic stoppage-time aim by Hwang Hee-chan in a 2-1 victory over Portugal. The group had drawn with Uruguay in its opener after which misplaced to Ghana.
With inputs from AP
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