Estêvão is even out of the World Cup. The 19-year-old striker was not included in the preliminary list sent by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) to FIFA (International Football Federation), this Monday (11), with 55 names of possible players called up for the competition.
The young Chelsea player suffered a serious muscle injury on May 18th. He had been undergoing intensive treatment in an attempt to be available for the World Cup, but the national team’s technical committee understood that this was not a possibility.
The injury to the back of the right thigh was grade 4, with total rupture of the muscle fibers. In cases like this, surgery is generally necessary, with recovery lasting up to six months.
Estêvão was hopeful that conservative treatment could shorten this period. He had been going through this process in São Paulo, at the training center of Palmeiras, his old club, under the supervision of Chelsea and also monitored by the CBF.
Even though he really likes the boy’s football, Carlo Ancelotti preferred not to entertain false expectations and did not include him even in the preliminary list of 55 athletes. It is from this list that the 26 called up will come, which will be announced next Monday (18).
The names will be announced in a ceremony at the Museum of Tomorrow, in Rio de Janeiro. The following week, those chosen will begin the actual preparation at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis.
The Brazilian team will say goodbye to the Brazilian public in a friendly with Panama, at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro, on May 31st. On June 1st, the delegation will embark for North America. Without Stephen.
His absence fuels the hope of those who want to see Neymar at the World Cup. It is known that the 34-year-old striker is on the list of 55 players sent to FIFA —although it has not been officially released—, but at CBF the possibility of him being on the final list is treated as remote.
Those who certainly won’t be in the group are Rodrygo and Éder Militão, old acquaintances of Ancelotti from his Real Madrid days. The attacker tore the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his right knee. The defender suffered a tear in the biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh.
None of them will be able to play in this year’s World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19, with venues divided between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Brazil’s three matches in Group C will take place on American soil.
The debut is scheduled for June 13, against Morocco, in East Rutherford, on the outskirts of New Jersey. On the 19th, the duel is with Haiti, in Philadelphia. The yellow-green team’s participation in the bracket will end in Miami Gardens, near Miami, in a clash with Scotland.
