Neymar poised to return for Brazil vs South Korea World Cup match

The Brazilian star missed two group-stage video games due to an harm he picked up in opposition to Serbia.

Neymar taking part in in Brazil's match in opposition to Serbia, their first recreation of the 2022 World Cup [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

5-time champions Brazil are set to enter their first knockout match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with considered one of their deadliest threats – famous person Neymar – again on the sector.

Neymar, and the Brazil workforce, are anticipated to play on Monday evening in opposition to South Korea at 10pm (19:00 GMT) at Stadium 974 after footage launched by the Brazilian soccer federation confirmed the ahead in good situation as he did drills with the ball and took pictures on aim a day earlier than the match.

Brazil coach Tite had earlier instructed reporters he would begin with the striker if he was match to play.

“I favor to make use of my greatest participant from the beginning,” Tite stated on Sunday. “It’s the coach who has to make that call and tackle that duty.”

Neymar, whose $263m switch from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 set a report, missed the ultimate two group stage matches in opposition to Switzerland and Cameroon after he sustained ligament harm in the course of the opening match in opposition to Serbia, which Brazil received 2-0.

Brazil went on to beat Switzerland 1-0 and lose to Cameroon 0-1, with many of the workforce’s prime gamers given a relaxation in the course of the match, which got here after that they had already secured qualification for the knockout spherical.

Thirty-year-old Neymar is no stranger to accidents, having for years contended with issues in his proper foot and ankle that hindered his appearances within the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.

Brazil’s Neymar was injured within the match in opposition to Serbia [File: Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Nonetheless, the talisman’s play-making capacity will possible show basic to Brazil’s success going ahead as they face an more and more aggressive area in Qatar, with Argentina, England, France, and the Netherlands having already secured their locations within the quarterfinals.

That’s significantly true after ahead Gabriel Jesus and left-back Alex Telles have been dominated out of the remainder of the World Cup after sustaining accidents in opposition to Cameroon.

Proper-back Danilo has additionally been dominated match to return, whereas left-back Alex Sandro won't play in opposition to South Korea, who made it to the Spherical of 16 on aim differential over Uruguay after upsetting Portugal 2-1 of their closing group stage match.

On Sunday, South Korea coach Paulo Bento performed coy when requested about Neymar’s return, telling reporters: “Clearly we received’t say that it’s higher to face Brazil when Neymar is taking part in, however I all the time favor when the perfect gamers are there.”

The Asian workforce’s probabilities have been additionally boosted by excellent news on the accidents entrance: A wholesome Hwang Hee-chan, who scored the decisive aim in opposition to Portugal whereas additionally fighting accidents all through the group stage, is predicted to begin on Tuesday.

In June, Brazil thrashed South Korea 5-1 in a pleasant in Seoul. However Brazil captain Thiago Silva stated his workforce wouldn’t be taking their opponents evenly – even with Neymar again in motion.

“We will’t assume it’s going to be a simple recreation prefer it was in that pleasant,” he instructed reporters. “Now it’s the World Cup and so they’ve superior in a really powerful group. We have now loads of respect for them.”