Brazil head into Monday’s World Cup last-16 tie towards South Korea preoccupied by the well being of the good Pele and with coach Tite questioning whether or not to recall the Selecao’s present quantity 10 Neymar after an ankle harm. Tite used his press convention previous to Friday’s remaining group sport towards Cameroon to want Pele a speedy restoration after the all-time nice was admitted to hospital in Sao Paulo through the week. The three-time World Cup winner, now aged 82, has been present process a “re-evaluation” of the chemotherapy he had following surgical procedure to take away a colon tumour in September final 12 months.
Brazil followers additionally unfurled a banner with a get effectively quickly message for Pele forward of the Cameroon sport, which the Selecao misplaced 1-0 as they went right down to their first defeat within the group stage since 1998.
There can be no higher manner for Brazil to pay tribute to their biggest ever participant than by occurring to win a record-extending sixth World Cup on December 18, and the draw seems to have opened up favourably for them.
They topped their part regardless of scoring simply three targets in three video games in Qatar, their worst displaying in entrance of aim within the group stage of a World Cup since 1978.
Brazil have a fearsome vary of attacking choices, even with Gabriel Jesus having gone residence injured, however they’ve scored simply as soon as since Neymar got here off with a sprained ankle of their opening 2-0 win over Serbia on November 24.
He watched the Cameroon sport from simply behind the Brazilian bench on the Lusail Stadium and on Saturday he was again coaching together with his teammates, elevating hopes he can be on the sector towards the Koreans.
“I really feel good, I knew that I’d now,” he wrote on Instagram on Saturday with a reference to James Brown.
“Together with his return the entire crew will enhance,” mentioned Richarlison, scorer of each targets towards Serbia, on Friday.
“I hope he comes again. Everybody noticed how a lot we missed him within the final two video games. I believe him coming again will make me higher.”
Kindest draw?
On paper Brazil may absolutely not have requested for a kinder draw at this stage than South Korea, who certified for the final 16 because of a last-gasp winner by Hwang Hee-chan towards Portugal.
In the event that they win at Doha’s Stadium 974 they may advance to a quarter-final towards Japan or Croatia, with a last-four showdown towards nice rivals Argentina nonetheless on the playing cards.
Korea have been the second lowest-ranked aspect to make the knockout stage and Paulo Bento’s aspect have current expertise of how chastening an expertise it may be to tackle Brazil.
The groups met in a pleasant in Seoul in June and Brazil romped to a 5-1 victory with Neymar scoring two penalties.
“They’re an aggressive and robust crew. We won’t afford to make errors,” warned Richarlison, who was additionally on course in that pleasant conflict.
Brazil are determined to rediscover the shape in entrance of aim that noticed them rating a outstanding 26 instances of their seven video games previous the event, however except for Neymar they’ve harm issues in defence.
Alex Telles, who changed Alex Sandro at left-back towards Cameroon, is out of the event with a knee harm.
Alex Sandro himself has been recovering from harm whereas, on the opposite aspect, right-back Danilo may make his return from an ankle downside.
“All going effectively, the expectation is that he shall be accessible for the following match,” mentioned Rodrigo Lasmar, Brazil’s crew physician who often seems earlier than the media to offer updates on the well being of the crew’s stars.
But the fact is that whoever performs shall be anticipated to be too sturdy for South Korea, even when in Son Heung-min the Asian upstarts have their very own famous person attacker.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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