Carlo Ancelotti is currently leading the Brazilian team’s final training session at the Columbia Park CT in Morristown in preparation for the match against Scotland. The coach has 25 of the group’s players in the activity – the exception is striker Raphinha, who suffered a muscle injury to his right thigh in the victory over Haiti.
Alisson, who was kept out of action on the pitch on Monday (22), due to load control, works without limitations. The same goes for the seven starters who received the same treatment on Sunday (23): Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Douglas Santos, Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães and Matheus Cunha.
Only the initial 15 minutes of the training could be watched by the press. During this period, as had already happened the day before, Neymar was integrated into the group, without restrictions. The expectation is that he will be available for the game on Wednesday (24), at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens.
The 34-year-old striker presented himself to Ancelotti, just last month, in Teresópolis, with a muscle injury in his right calf – much more serious than the edema he said he had. He was absent from the two preparatory friendlies for the World Cup, against Panama and Egypt, and in the team’s first two matches in Group C, against Morocco and Haiti.
Although recovered, he is still unable to play 90 minutes and is not considered a candidate for Raphinha’s place. Luiz Henrique, Rayan, Martinelli, Endrick and Igor Thiago are fighting for the spot, with some favoritism for the first, due to his dribbling ability against an opponent who must play closed.
Leader of their group, Brazil tries to protect this position in the final round. The yellow-green team has four points, like Morocco, and has a two-goal advantage on balance. The Moroccan team will also conclude its participation in the first phase on Wednesday, against eliminated Haiti.
