FIFA World Cup, Round of 16: Return of Neymar in Brazil vs South Korea

Brazil will be facing a spirited South Korea in the round of 16 clashes on Monday. The five-time champions will be looking to get things in order before the match as they come into the knockout stage after losing their last group game against Cameroon. However, they’ll have Neymar back this time.

Following the loss, Brazil manager Tite received severe criticism from the Brazilian media for entering the game with nine new starters. The media lashed out at the manager for not taking the World Cup seriously and accused that he lacked respect for the tournament and the other teams.

Tite defended the move by stating that the team had 26 great athletes and urged critics to view the team as a whole, not individual players.



He also added that the team did not refer to the players as “starters” or “reserves.” But when asked about Neymar during the pre-match press conference, Tite said the PSG star would be playing the knockout game on December 5.

Injury Woes for Brazil Continue

Woes for Brazil haven’t subsided, as Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles were ruled out of the tournament as both performers sustained knee injuries. Alex Sandro’s recurrent hip problem might also jeopardize his place in the team against South Korea. Thus, Dr. Rodrigo Lasmar, responsible for Brazilian players’ fitness during the World Cup 2022, has had an extremely busy outing.

While Brazil will be looking to start with their most dominant combination, the team will sorely miss Gabriel and Alex. However, Neymar’s return will be a big boost for the team and a monumental support for Brazil’s star performer of the tournament, Richarlison.

On the other hand, South Korea, which won the last world cup knockout stage match in 2002, is also undergoing an injury crisis. Their star player, Son Heung-min, is currently in the post-recovery stage from a facial fracture, though he has played in Qatar with a Zorro face mask. Likewise, Hwang Hee-chan, the last-minute scorer against Portugal, has also sustained a hamstring injury, and whether he’ll start against Brazil remains unclear.

FAQs:

1. Who is the fitness manager for Brazil?
   Dr. Rodrigo Lasmar.
2. Will Neymar play against South Korea?
   Tite confirmed that Neymar would play the knockout game.