Firmino in early dash to link up with Brazil camp

÷STRIKER Roberto Firmino has decided to join Brazil’s squad earlier in London for pre-World Cup training, in a sign he is keen to challenge Gabriel Jesus for a place in the team’s starting line-up. The Liverpool player arrived at Tottenham’s training ground late on Monday and took fitness tests yesterday. ‘I had two more days to stay home, but I decided to come early and start now,’ said Firmino, who was excused from training until today after losing the Champions League final against Real Madrid on Saturday. European champions Casemiro and Marcelo plan to arrive in London today as scheduled. Firmino has challenged Manchester City’s Jesus for a place in the team after a strong season with Liverpool. Jesus is returning from injury. ÷GERMANY goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will make his comeback from a nine-month injury break in Saturday’s international against Austria as he races to be fit for next month’s World Cup. World Cup winner Neuer, who has been the Germany number one for more than eight years, has not played a single official game since breaking a bone in his foot in September. The 32-year-old Germany captain played 30 minutes in their training match against the German Under-20 team on Monday and will again play another 30 minutes when the two sides meet today. ÷MARIO BALOTELLI has been praised by anti-racism campaigners for highlighting an offensive banner displayed by fans at his comeback game for Italy. The slogan ‘My captain is of Italian blood’ in Italian was draped on a pitch-side wall during Italy’s 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia on Monday in Switzerland. Balotelli scored the opening goal in his first national-team game since the 2014 World Cup. On his Instagram account, Balotelli posted an image of the banner, adding his own message: ‘We are in 2018 guys. Wake up!’