Samba Boys touch down in Russia:
Egypt doctor AL Ela fails to commit on Salah’s availability
Brazil’s squad arrived in Russia yesterday with their star Neymar seemingly recovered from a broken foot bone as they begin their quest to win a sixth World Cup.
The Brazilians landed in the early hours in Sochi, the Black Sea resort where they will be based, fresh from beating Austria 3-0 in their final warm-up match.
Neymar marked his first start in more than three months by scoring in the easy victory in Vienna while Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho also netted.
It was Neymar’s 55th goal in a Brazil shirt, allowing him to draw level with Romario on his country’s list of all-time leading scorers — only Pele and Ronaldo have more goals for their country.
“I don’t know Neymar’s limits,” Brazil coach Tite said. “His technical and creative capacity is impressive. When we get him in the last third of the field, he is lethal.”
Brazil, who crashed out of the last World Cup on home soil in a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany, start their campaign against Switzerland in Rostov-on-Don on Sunday.
Neymar, the world’s most expensive player, joined fellow stars Lionel Messi of Argentina and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo on Russian soil as the clock ticks down to Thursday’s curtain-raiser between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia.
A big question mark hangs over the participation of Egypt and Liverpool striker Mohammad Salah, who is still receiving treatment for the shoulder injury he suffered in the Champions League final.
Egypt are banking on the availability of Salah as they try to get past the first stage of a World Cup for the first time.
The Egyptians arrived at their base in the Chechen capital Grozny on Sunday, after Salah sat out their final training session in Cairo.
Once they touched down, a tracksuited Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was among the first to greet Salah.
Still in pain
Team doctor Mohammad Abou Al Ela admitted the striker, who scored 44 goals for Liverpool this season, was unlikely to play in Egypt’s opening Group A match against Uruguay on Friday.
“He still feels pain ... this type of injury needs a recovery period of three weeks before going back to the field,” he said.
While the favourites limber up, host nation Russia are under high pressure as they prepare to open the tournament at the impressive 80,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Ranked a lowly 70 in the world, Russia have not won for seven consecutive games.
President Vladimir Putin, who has spent billions to put on the biggest sports event in Russia since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, has exhorted the team to raise their level. “I must acknowledge the fact that, unfortunately, our team have not achieved big results in recent times,” Putin said last week.
Before Thursday’s kickoff, the football world will focus on choosing the host of the 2026 World Cup between a joint bid featuring the United States, Canada and Mexico and underdogs Morocco.
Fifa member states will vote on the issue at their congress on Wednesday.
Brazil, who crashed out of the last World Cup on home soil in a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany, start their campaign against Switzerland in Rostov-on-Don on Sunday.
Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Manuel Fernandes yesterday underlined the importance of Portugal’s opening World Cup group game against Spain in an early heavyweight clash in Russia.
The European champions face 2010 World Cup winners Spain in their first Group B fixture in Sochi on June 15, the winner of which will be in pole position to finish top of a section that includes Morocco and Iran.
“It’s a very important game for all of us, we’re a strong team now and will be playing a very strong team too, one of the top contenders,” Fernandes said at Portugal’s training base in Kratovo, southeast of Moscow.
“We shouldn’t be underestimating the other two teams but Spain is one of the favourites. We also have respect for Iran and Morocco and will not take them lightly.”
“Of course we came here to win all our matches in our group, we can’t think about anything else,” he added. “Our main goal is to go as far as we can.”
The 32-year-old Fernandes, who won the first of his 14 caps as a teenager in 2005, is appearing at his first major tournament as Portugal hope to dramatically improve on a group-stage exit four years ago in Brazil. “I’m glad to be here and we’re very happy to have the opportunity to be here. It’s very well organised and a wonderful venue and team base camp,” Fernandes said.
“We’ll try to show our strength to its fullest and we have Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Of course he’s a very important player for us. We don’t depend on how much he scores but on what form he’s in. It’s very important to play as a team. We got to this stage by playing well together.”
Spain arrived at their training base in the southern city of Krasnodar on Thursday, and beat Tunisia 1-0 in their final warm-up on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run to 20 matches. “I wouldn’t single out any player,” Fernandes responded when asked who posed Spain’s main threat.
Intense speculation
“They have a lot of respect for the Portugal team, they think the game will be very difficult, and we think the same about them.”
Fernandes also said Cristiano Ronaldo “doesn’t look at all worried about his future” as the Real Madrid superstar contemplates a possible exit from the Spanish giants this summer.
There has been intense speculation over Ronaldo’s future after the 33-year-old suggested he could have played his last game for Real following their 3-1 victory over Liverpool in last month’s Champions League final.
Fernandes said: “I have nothing negative to say about Cristiano, he looks focused and doesn’t look at all worried about his future.”
Spain centre-back Gerard Pique was forced to leave a training session early on Monday after hurting his left knee just four days before the team’s opening Group B football match against Portugal.
The Barcelona stalwart appeared to pull up on his knee at the Krasnador soccer city, Spain’s headquarters for the Russia World Cu.
The 31-year-old tested his apparent discomfort by kicking the ball, after which he decided to leave the pitch.
Manchester City’s attacking midfielder David Silva also left the training ground early, although he showed no obvious signs of discomfort.