Five-time world champions Brazil might safe a spot within the knockout section with a win over the Swiss relying on the end result of the day’s early sport between Serbia and Cameroon.
PSG ahead Neymar. Picture: @PSG_English/Twitter
DOHA, QATAR – Brazil should do without injured star ahead Neymar towards Switzerland on the World Cup on Monday as Cristiano Ronaldo seems to be to steer Portugal into the last 16 in Qatar.
Five-time world champions Brazil might safe a spot within the knockout section with a win over the Swiss relying on the end result of the day’s early sport between Serbia and Cameroon.
Brazil kicked off their marketing campaign in Qatar with a 2-0 victory over Serbia in Group G however Neymar limped off with a sprained ankle.
“At the time it was difficult for him and after the game he was sad which I think is normal given how much he has dreamt of this,” stated Brazil centre-back Marquinhos.
“Now, after the tests and the treatment, he is doing physiotherapy 24 hours a day which shows how much he wants to be back with us.
“We do not know when, however we hope it is as quickly as doable.”
Ronaldo became the first man to score in five World Cups after converting a disputed penalty in Portugal’s opening 3-2 victory over Ghana in Group H.
The Portuguese will qualify for the second round if they beat Uruguay at the Lusail Stadium, which will host the final on December 18.
Danilo Pereira has been ruled out of the rest of the group stage after fracturing three ribs in training, meaning 39-year-old Pepe is likely to start in defence.
It would make him the second oldest outfield player ever to appear in a World Cup match, after Cameroon great Roger Milla.
Cameroon lost to Switzerland in their first game so will attempt to bounce back against Serbia, who are being investigated by FIFA after the team hung a controversial flag depicting Kosovo in their changing room before their loss to Brazil.
South Korea coach Paulo Bento says the team will see a “totally different” Son Heung-min against Ghana after the forward got used to his protective face mask during their 0-0 draw with Uruguay.
Before coming to Qatar, Son had surgery to repair a fracture around his left eye he suffered while playing for Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.
“First he wanted to really feel comfy together with his teammates and afterwards with the opponents. The second sport might be totally different,” said Bento.
GERMANY HAVE HOPE
Germany gave themselves a chance of qualifying for the last 16 after substitute Niclas Fuellkrug snatched a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw with Spain on Sunday.
Alvaro Morata had put Spain ahead in the 62nd minute of a tense meeting at Al Bayt Stadium between the winners of two of the last three World Cups.
After crashing to a shock defeat to Japan in their first game, Germany must have woken up on Sunday with fears of a second consecutive group-stage exit looming in their minds.
But even before they held Spain, the Germans were helped by Costa Rica, who bounced back from a 7-0 drubbing by Spain to beat Japan 1-0. Defender Keysher Fuller scored the only goal in the 81st minute.
It means Group E is finely poised. Germany can go through if they beat the Costa Ricans on Thursday and Spain avoid defeat to Japan.
“The necessary factor is we’re nonetheless alive,” said Germany captain Manuel Neuer.
Belgium’s hopes of qualifying from Group F took a severe blow as they suffered a surprise 2-0 loss to Morocco.
A victory for Belgium would have sent them into the knockout phase but Romain Saiss and Zakaria Aboukhlal’s late goals instead secured Morocco’s first World Cup win in 24 years.
“We’re not taking part in with pleasure. It’s possibly the burden on our shoulders,” stated Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.
In Sunday’s different Group F sport, Croatia went behind to Canada when Alphonso Davies scored after simply two minutes earlier than the 2018 overwhelmed finalists romped to a 4-1 win.
Croatia now want only a draw with Belgium of their remaining group sport on Thursday to achieve the last 16, however the Belgians need to beat them to make sure of going via.
Morocco might be assured of taking some extent from Canada to achieve the second section for the primary time since 1986, whereas the eradicated Canadians might be taking part in only for delight.
