Can Brazilian superstar Neymar participate in the round of 16 of the World Cup today? The PSG striker had not been used since the start of the tournament due to injury. SPOX updates you.
It took just two matches for the Brazil national football team to qualify for the knockout stage in Qatar. Even the surprising 1-0 defeat against underdog Cameroon on the last day of play could not curb the new euphoria in the largest country of South America.
It matters little that the star Neymar Junior – a leading figure in the Seleçao – has accumulated only 79 minutes of the tournament due to injury. The 30-year-old striker has suffered from ligament damage in his right ankle since his opener against Serbia. Furthermore, he had to contend with a bad cold, including fever, as revealed by his teammate Vincius Junior.
The big question on the minds of soccer-mad Brazil is: Will Neymar be able to take on South Korea in the round of 16?
Neymar, injury: can the Brazilian superstar play in the 2022 World Cup today?
No binding statements can be made on this, but many positive things can be seen from the developments of recent days. Neymar had already returned to team training last Saturday. The superstar also tweeted, “Feels good, I knew she was going to go like this.”
Brazil national team coach Tite, however, tried to curb the euphoria again on Sunday. First of all, he wanted to wait and see how his player would perform in training. However, the final decision rests with the medical department. But if all goes well, then “it will ring tomorrow.”
When asked if Neymar was one of the starting XI or just an option off the bench, the coach replied: “My preference is: the best from the start.”
Brazil meets the selection of South Korea this Monday (20:00). The winner will face either Japan or Croatia in the quarterfinals.
Neymar, injury: can the Brazilian superstar play in the 2022 World Cup today? – Estimated formation against South Korea
With Neymar’s use against South Korea still in doubt, we wonder what a starting XI would be like without the PSG star. Along with Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus (both with knee injuries), it would mean the Seleçao’s third high-profile absence.
- Brazil: Alisson – Eder Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo – Casemiro – Rodrygo, Lucas Paqueta – Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinicius Junior
- South Korea: S.-G. Kim – M.-H. Kim, M.-J. Kim, Y.-G. Kim, J.-S. Kim – I.-B. Hwang, Jung – J.-S. Lee, K.-I. Lee, son – G.-S. Cho
Neymar, injury: can the Brazilian superstar play in the 2022 World Cup today? – The schedule of matches for the round of 16
| Given | team a | B team | Result/kick off |
| Saturday 03 December | Holland | United States of America | 3:1 |
| Saturday 03 December | Argentina | Australia | 2:1 |
| Sunday 04 December | France | Poland | 3:1 |
| Sunday 04 December | England | Senegal | 3:00 |
| Monday 05 December | Japan | Croatia | 4 pm |
| Monday 05 December | Brazil | South Korea | 8:00 pm |
| Tuesday 06 December | Morocco | Spain | 4 pm |
| Tuesday 06 December | Portugal | Swiss | 8:00 pm |
