Carlo Ancelotti led the Brazilian team’s last training session on Thursday morning (18) before the match against Haiti, in the second round of the World Cup. At the Columbia Park CT in Morristown, New Jersey, the coach made the final adjustments to the team.
Only the first 15 minutes of the activity could be followed by the press. The period was basically a warm-up, with congratulations to Martinelli’s birthday boy and no further hints about the lineup to be adopted on Friday (19), at Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia.
It is certain, however, that there will be changes in relation to the team selected in the first round. The performance in the 1-1 draw with Morocco was not good, and the Italian coach will look for alternatives in an attempt to avoid scares in the first phase of the World Cup.
The right side, which was left with the improvised defender Ibañez last Saturday (13), should be taken over by Danilo. There should also be changes at the front. Luiz Henrique is fighting for Paquetá’s place, and Igor Thiago’s position is threatened by Matheus Cunha and Endrick.
Neymar is not in contention for this position. The CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) informed that he will not travel with the delegation to Philadelphia. “It will remain in New Jersey to optimize the final phase of its recovery process, making use of the excellent structures of The Ridge hotel and Columbia Park CT.”
This Thursday, as happened on Wednesday, the 34-year-old striker was on the pitch, but still not fully integrated into the group. He did part of the warm-up alongside his teammates and then began carrying out private work. Afterwards, he joined his colleagues in a silly circle. There, the journalists were asked to leave.
The veteran presented himself to the team, at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis, on the 27th, with a grade two injury in his right calf – much more serious than the edema he said he had. It was only this week that he started training with his teammates, which made his participation in the duel with Haiti unfeasible.
There are still some steps that must be completed for Neymar to be listed. The expectation is that he will be on the bench in the match against Scotland, scheduled for next Wednesday (24), in Miami Gardens, in the last round of Group C.
