PSG influence a good omen as Neymar bids to inspire Brazil

● Silva says striker can emulate club-mates Mbappe and Cavani ● But Mexico coach says that he’s more worried about Coutinho

BRAZIL V MEXICO

absent for the five-time champions in Samara after he was forced off injured in the final group game against Serbia. Felipe Luis will deputise.

Coach Tite was impressed with how Neymar performed against the Serbians as the player continues his recovery from foot surgery. “He played very, very well against Serbia. I told him, ‘We know the price you have paid to climb back to this level’,” said Tite.

“He did everything we asked tactically, defending the fullback, and looked for goal, to dribble and run with the ball.”

Mexico helped eliminate defending champions Germany in the group stages as they reached the last 16 for the seventh successive World Cup. Now they are desperate to go at least one better and play in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, when they were the tournament hosts.

They appeared on course to top Group F before a 3-0 defeat by Sweden in their third match left them in second place and facing a tough tie against Brazil. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio described Brazil as the best team in the world, but insists his players will attack, despite the tricky draw.

“We won’t sit back and wait, Brazil’s attackers are too good for that to be the right plan,” said the Colombian. “We will stick to our idea of having at 3 Brazil’s Neymar takes part in a training session at the Samara Arena ahead of today’s last-16 tie and, above, it’s Javier Hairnandez as Mexico striker Chicharito shows off his new colour at training yesterday.