Five-time world champions Brazil are set to begin their mission to win a sixth title, the Hexa, with a match against Morocco early on Sunday.
But even before the on-field battle gets under way, dire news has come to the Seleção camp. There is now intense uncertainty over whether the team’s biggest star, Neymar Jr, will play in the opening match, and in the early part of the World Cup.
The popular French football outlet Footmercato reported, in a special report, that the process of fully recovering from the injury to his right calf muscle has become more complicated than before. As a result, the 34-year-old forward has not yet been able to return to normal training with the team.
Neymar sustained the injury on May 17 while playing for Santos in Brazil’s domestic league. The medical team of Brazil’s national team later examined him and said his recovery would take at least three weeks. The World Cup squad is now training intensively in New Jersey, but Neymar has still not been able to join the main group. He is having to fight to regain his fitness by going to the gym and cycling on his own. According to the Footmercato report, with complications appearing in the rehabilitation process, the chances of Neymar taking the field in Brazil’s opening match against Morocco are now close to zero.
After a long spell outside the national team, coach Carlo Ancelotti recalled Neymar to the World Cup squad amid much discussion and criticism. Neymar himself gave a fairly emotional message, declaring this fourth World Cup the last of his career. But his injury, just before the tournament began, is forcing the coach to make major changes to his tactical plans.
Even though Neymar may not be available for the first match, the team’s medical staff have offered Brazil fans some hope. A source said that even if he misses the first match, there is a chance he will be available for the rest of the group-stage matches.
Right before the start of the mission to win the Hexa, the absence of the team’s best star is undoubtedly a big blow for Brazil. It now remains to be seen what tactics coach Carlo Ancelotti sets up against Morocco without Neymar.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report