Neymar of Brazil celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the World Cup round of 16 football match between Brazil and South Korea at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. Photo Credit: AP
Neymar is in Brazil’s starting lineup for their round of 16 match against South Korea world Cup on Monday.
The star forward had not played since injuring his right ankle in the team’s group stage opener against Serbia. Coach Tite said Neymar would start at the Stadion 974 depending on how he performed in training on Sunday.
Neymar has scored 75 goals with Brazil, two shy of the all-time record held by football great Pele.
Danilo, who also injured his ankle in Brazil’s opener, joined Neymar in the starting lineup against South Korea. However, he was drafted in to play in the left back position after Alex Sandro was sidelined with a hip injury. Another left back, Alex Telles, was ruled out of Brazil’s loss to Cameroon in their last group game with a knee injury. Central defender Eder Militão was in the Right Back position.
Neymar’s team-mates in attack will be Vinicius Junior, Richardson and Rafinha.
Gabriel Jesus was also ruled out of the team due to a knee injury.
Brazil is trying to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the eighth time in a row. South Korea has not made it past the last 16 since reaching the historic semifinals at the co-host tournament in 2002.
teams
Brazil (4-2-3-1)
Alison Baker; Eder Militão, Thiago Silva (c), Marquinhos, Danilo; Lucas Paqueta, Casemiro; Rafinha, Neymar, Vinicius Jnr; richardson
Coach: Tight (BRA)
South Korea (4-2-3-1)
Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su; Jung Woo-young, Hwang In-beom; Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung, Son Heung-min (Captain); cho gue-sung
Coach: Paulo Bento (POR)
Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)
(with inputs from agencies)