Brazil must confront a growing injury list that includes star forward Neymar as they resume World Cup qualifying this week.
Copa America champions Brazil host Venezuela in Sao Paulo on Friday chasing a third win in as many matches after launching their Qatar 2022 campaign with victories over Bolivia and Peru, reports AFP.
However, Brazil coach Tite will be without Neymar after the world’s most expensive player injured his thigh while on Champions League duty with Paris Saint-Germain in Turkey last month.
Neymar, 28, bagged a hat-trick in a 4-2 win in Lima last time out to surpass Ronaldo as Brazil’s second leading scorer in history. His tally of 64 goals leaves him 13 shy of Pele’s record.
Despite his latest setback Neymar will still travel with the squad amid hopes that he may recover in time for the trip to Uruguay on November 17.
However, national team coordinator Juninho Paulista said Tite told PSG sporting director Leonardo that he “would never risk a player’s health”.
Defender Thiago Silva has tightened up the Chelsea defence since his arrival in England, but the 36-year-old has warned the crowded global fixture list is taking its toll on players.
“You have to keep endlessly reinventing yourself. We’re losing players infected by Covid-19, or others who get hurt because we’re playing too many matches. We’re not machines,” he said.
“We saw recent studies showing it’s more than likely you get injured after four or five matches come one after another (every three days). It’s very worrying for us.”
While goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Gabriel Jesus return after injury, Brazil will also be without Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho and Fabinho.
