Brazil boss set to rest key stars for Cameroon clash
While Switzerland and Serbia face-off in a replay of highly charged match in Russia four years ago
Brazil coach Tite is expected to rotate his World Cup squad for their final Group G match against Cameroon tonight (3am, Hong Kong time) with a view to keeping some players fresh for a likely last-16 match on Monday if they finish top of their group.
With their ticket already booked for the knockout stages after two wins, Brazil can rest players and wait for the return of others, including Neymar, Alex Sandro and Danilo from injury.
Juventus left back Alex Sandro suffered a hip injury in Brazil’s 1-0 win over Switzerland, while Paris St-Germain forward Neymar and Juventus right back Danilo picked up ankle injuries in the opening 2-0 win over Serbia. Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar has given no timetable for their return.
Several Brazil players were also ill on Sunday, including midfielder Lucas Paqueta who missed Saturday training and was substituted off at the break in the game against Switzerland.
According to Brazilian television station Globo, Tite has already told the squad that he plans to give some players their first start at a World Cup match when they meet the African side.
Cameroon still have a chance of advancing. But Brazil are World Cup favourites for a reason, boasting a bench bristling with talent.
Cameroon will face Brazil without keeper Andre Onana, who has been dropped from the squad for disciplinary reasons.
Brazil will top their group if they draw or win. If they lose and Switzerland win against Serbia, top spot will be decided by goal difference. The Swiss are second on three points, two ahead of Serbia and Cameroon who have one point apiece. Both need to win to have any chance of progressing in second place, which would be decided by goal difference.
Dusan Vlahovic believes his injury woes are behind him ahead of Serbia’s clash with Switzerland tonight (3am, Hong Kong time), declaring he will play “with one leg” if necessary. Vlahovic was an unused substitute as Serbia squandered a 3-1 lead in Monday’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Cameroon, having only played 24 minutes off the bench in their 2-0 loss to Brazil after struggling with a groin injury.
Switzerland edged out Serbia by two points to qualify from Group E at the 2018 World Cup, claiming a 2-1 victory in a highly charged encounter.
In the aftermath of that game, Swiss goalscorers Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri – both of whom are of Albanian-Kosovan descent – were charged by Fifa after appearing to celebrate their strikes by performing an Albanian nationalist gesture.