Silva tips Neymar ‘hat-trick’

THIAGO SILVA has backed Neymar to follow in the footsteps of his Paris St-Germain team-mates Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani by shining in the knockout stages. Brazil forward Neymar (left) came into the tournament lacking fitness following a foot injury and only scored once during three group games.

Mbappe and Cavani were instrumental in their countries reaching the quarter-finals, each scoring twice as France knocked out Argentina and Uruguay saw off Portugal.

And defender Silva, who plays alongside all three in Paris, believes Neymar could

from GEORGE SCOTT repeat their exploits, starting against Mexico today.

Silva said: “When the France and Uruguay games were over, I thought Neymar will have his way in our match.

“Mbappe and Cavani were both fundamental for the victories. In the right moments, we have the right freedom for the strikers to do what they do best.

“We hope it is going to be a great day and Neymar is inspired as well as the other players.” Left-back Marcelo will be absent for the five-time champions in Samara after he was forced off injured in the final group game against Serbia, with Felipe Luis set to deputise.

Mexico helped eliminate defending champions Germany in the group stages as they reached the last 16 for the seventh successive World Cup.

And their coach Juan Carlos Osorio insists his players won’t hold back against Brazil.

He said: “We won’t sit back and wait, Brazil’s attackers are too good for that to be the right plan.

“We will stick to our idea of having at least four or five attacking players.

“I really think this is going to be a great opportunity for Mexican football to face, in the round of

16, the best team on the planet.”