Neymar to start in Tite’s unchanged team

Macdara Ferris reports from St. Petersburg

The Brazil squad is arguably stronger at this World Cup in Russia than the one that capitulated as a host nation four years ago.

Although, just like in 2014, it seems that the hopes of a Brazilian nation rest on the shoulders (and recovering foot) of Neymar da Silva Santos Junior.

The Selecao starting line up for their game against Costa Rica on Friday afternoon will be unchanged from their disappointing draw with Switzerland last Sunday, and that means Neymar will start despite ongoing injury concerns.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference in the St. Petersburg stadium on the eve of the game, Brazilian manager Tite confirmed his starting XI will be the same as the one that faced the Swiss.

He also brushed off concerns about rushing back the PSG player. Neymar broke a bone in his foot back in February and had his training on Tuesday curtailed after picking up a slight ankle injury.

"He had a blow (to the ankle), but I think that was the first time he has played 90 minutes in over three and a half months,” said the former Corinthians head coach.

"Five matches is the minimum he needs [for full fitness] but he has already sped up the process and is on track."

Tite is looking for Brazil to convert the chances that come their way in the game – something they failed to do after taking a 20^th minute lead when Philippe Coutinho scored against the Swiss.

With Brazil trailing Serbia by two points – they beat Costa Rica 1-0 in their opening game – a win on Friday is key if Brazil are to progress and back up their pre-tournament favourite tags.

“This game is decisive given the first game result. We need a similar defensive behaviour and be more effective in offensive aspects. To be effective you have to turn your opportunities into goals.”

Neymar seemed to struggle against an aggressive Swiss side in the last match but Tite will give the PSG player full freedom to take on the Costa Rican defence.

“I’m not going to take away his initiative in the last third of the pitch. You have to go there to create chances and I’m not going to take that away from anyone.

“That applies to Coutinho, (Gabriel) Jesus and Willian.”

#BRA train ahead of tomorrow’s #worldcup clash with #CRCpic.twitter.com/ImKuaccTd7

— Extratime.ie (@ExtratimeNews) June 21, 2018

The rotation of the Brazilian captaincy will continue with Neymar’s club team mate Thiago Silva taking over wearing the armband from Marcelo.

Silva was captain when Brazil hosted the last World Cup and was heavily criticised for his tears during their penalty shoot-out win over Chile.

He scored in the quarter-final win over Colombia but a yellow card ruled him out of the embarrassing defeat to Germany.

Tite was unfazed about handing him the armband for a game that he described as a “decisive match that we need to win to continue in the tournament.”

He added: “If we took everybody who was criticised in the last World Cup there would be nobody playing and we wouldn’t have a national team!

“We have a series of players who have the experience to continue as captaincy.

[Thiago Silva] has enough maturity when you talk about those responsibilities.”

Brazil went with a 4-2-3-1 formation in their opening game.

With Tite speaking about “some adjustments to positions to be made,” and looking at how they lined up at the start of their training session on the St. Petersburg pitch, it looks like they will start 4-1-2-3 to give them more attacking options.