42 Friday Sports Friday, June 22, 2018

Neymar fit for Brazil after World Cup injury fears criticised for being self-indulgent

SAINT PETERSBURG: Neymar will play in Brazil’s vital against the Swiss, Brazil consistently looked to Neymar World Cup match against Costa Rica today despite in- to provide the final finish or pass without success. jury fears, coach has confirmed. The world’s most Neymar was criticised for being self-indulgent, often expensive player was given a rough ride by the Swiss in taking too many touches to try and beat Swiss right- a 1-1 draw on Sunday, suffering 10 fouls during the back Stephan Lichtsteiner instead of moving the ball on match, the most for any player in a single World Cup quickly to teammates. But Tite strongly refuted reports game for 20 years. he has asked Neymar to play more in the team’s best in- Neymar then set alarm bells ringing when he hob- terests. “Absolutely not. The information you got is not bled out of training on Tuesday. But he returned to train- true,” Tite responded to a Brazilian journalist. “All of the ing on Wednesday and Tite insisted he is not running a players have this responsibility of playing for the collec- risk by throwing Neymar straight back into the action. tive (good) and being individuals. “It’s the same team that is going to start that stated “I’m not going to take away from him his genius in against Switzerland,” said Tite. “We want to win, it’s a the last third of the pitch. That applies to (Philippe) World Cup, but the coach is not going to play with the Coutinho, (Gabriel) Jesus, Willian and (Roberto) Firmino players’ health. It’s too big a risk.” Even before his latest too. “You have to strengthen the team but I’m not going injury scare, there were doubts over Neymar’s match fit- to take away the main characteristics of the players.” ness after a broken bone in his foot ended his club season will captain Brazil as Tite continues to with Paris Saint-Germain in February. Neymar returned rotate who wears the armband among a group of senior and scored in World Cup warm-up friendly wins against players. The Paris Saint-Germain defender admitted Croatia and Austria, but Tite admitted it could take up to Brazil’s failure to carry their excellent form in two years five games for his star forward to be back to his best. “He under Tite into their opening fixture in has piled had a knock, but I think it was the first time in three and on the pressure but is confident they will bounce back a half months he played 90 minutes,” said Tite. in Saint Petersburg. “We are calm. Five matches is the minimum you need “Given the first result, this puts a greater pressure in SAINT PETERSBURG: Brazil’s forward Neymar (R) shares a laugh with (from L) Brazil’s midfielder Paulinho, Brazil’s for- to be fully fit and he has already sped up the process.” theory, but we are fully aware of the responsibility and ward and Brazil’s defender Marcelo during a training session at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg In their desperation for a breakthrough in the final stages we are ready to perform tomorrow,” he said. —AFP yesterday on the eve of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group E football match between Brazil and Costa Rica. —AFP

He played the full 90 minutes against Argentina and has re- Gudmundsson set to miss covered completely. “He’s 100 percent fit. Match fit and ready to play,” said Hallgrimsson. “We have been rotating the team in preparation so we are ready to switch it around and it doesn’t Iceland’s Nigeria clash change our plans how we will approach this game.” Iceland are VOLGOGRAD: Iceland midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson buoyant after their shock result against Argentina where Lionel has not recovered from the calf injury he picked up against Ar- Messi saw a potentially match-winning penalty saved by Hannes gentina and is set to miss today’s crucial Group D clash with Halldorsson. And captain Aron Gunnarsson said it was the Nigeria. Iceland’s coach said yesterday that the injury means he team’s togetherness and spirit that enabled them to keep punch- will make changes to his line-up but boldly predicted his side, ing above their weight on the world stage, having famously who held Argentina to a 1-1 draw, would beat the Super Eagles knocked England out of Euro 2016. “I’ve always said that when in Volgograd. everyone is rowing in the same direction then anything is possi- “We expect to win,” coach Heimir Hallgrimsson told reporters ble in football,” said Gunnarsson. Nigeria lost their opening at the Volgograd Arena after a brief training session. “It is very match 2-0 to Croatia and Hallgrimsson said he expected the unlikely that Joey will play. But he’s getting better every day, and Africans to come out firing. is in good hands,” Hallgrimsson said, adding that the Burnley “This is a must-win game for Nigeria, and that makes it a little player would be replaced by Olafur Skulason if he doesn’t make bit psychologically different, they have to win,” he said. “This it. Gudmundsson was forced off after an hour against Argentina group is going to be decided in the last minutes, in the last game. VOLGOGRAD: Iceland’s players take part in a training session at Volgograd Arena but there was better news on Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson “It’s going to be down to some margins, a set piece, a goal in in- in Volgograd yesterday, on the eve of their Russia 2018 World Cup Group D foot- who had faced a race against time to be fit for the tournament. jury time. This is how this group is going to be played.” —AFP ball match against Nigeria. —AFP