Brazilian players attend a training session at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha, yesterday. AFP
Coach Tite said Brazil have “26 great athletes” as he is set to ring changes in his squad for final Group G clash against Cameroon at the Lusail Stadium.
The five-time champions, who have already qualified for the last-16 stage after wins over Serbia and Switzerland, only need a draw against Cameroon to top their group.
Missing Neymar and Danilo due to injuries, the pre-tournament favourites are likely to bench goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos,
Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior and Richarlison against Cameroon tonight.
Coach Tite and Dani Alves
“We are fully focused on preparing for the next match. We have a clear objective,” Tite told reporters yesterday.
“We have played two matches with two different teams and now we play the third match with a completely different team. We’ll make a few changes, we’ll include key players. In two games we used 19 players. We do not call them starting players or reserves. They are all players,” he added.
“I can only measure the players based on what they do on the field. It is a risk, yes, but it is an opportunity for them to show their quality,” the coach said.
Dani Alves, who accompanied the coach at a pre-match press conference, is set to lead the side, becoming Brazil's oldest World Cup captain.
The 39-year-old is among the players including Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and Liverpool midfielder Fabinho, who are set to start against Cameroon.
“What matters is representing the country in a World Cup,” Alves, who missed the Russia World Cup four years ago due to an injury, told reporters.
“This is a reason to be proud. There are many years of history and now it’s time to end the cycle within the Brazilian team playing a World Cup. For me it is a great satisfaction,” said the veteran, who played in the 2010 and 2014 World Cup editions.
“Age doesn’t matter in football. Whether you are the youngest or oldest, all that matters is if you are good enough.”
Brazil will meet the runners-up of Group H – featuring Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea – in the Round 16 on Monday if they win Group G.
Cameroon coach Rigobert Song speaks to the players. REUTERS
Cameroon to go all out for three points
For Rigobert Song’s Cameroon, who only have one point from a thrilling 3-3 draw against Serbia, it’s a do-or-die clash.
The Indomitable Lions need three points against Brazil and they will also have to hope Serbia avoid defeat against Switzerland as the two teams meet at the
same time.
“We need a result to stay in the tournament and we will do everything to get three points,” said Song.
The Cameron coach said he was focused on his squad and not Brazil’s team ahead of the crucial match.
Cameroon players during training. REUTERS
“With regards to what is at stake tomorrow, we know the Brazilian squad off by heart. But we aren’t worrying about what they’re going to bring to the game, it’s about what we bring to the game."
“We know they’re a very strong team, but if we think about that and concentrate on them – are they going to shake up their squad? Are they going to rotate positions?
“I don’t really care about what they’re going to do, it’s about us. We are preparing as if we’re playing a final.”
Brazil have won both their matches against Cameroon at the finals. The Selecao defeated the Africans 3-0 in San Francisco in 1994 and won 4-1 in Brasília 20 years later, when Neymar scored twice.
When: Today at 10pm
Where: Lusail Stadium, Lusail
Capacity: 88,966
Key stats:
- Brazil enter the contest having already qualified for the knockout stage with wins over Serbia and Switzerland.
- After a loss to the Swiss and a draw with Serbia, Cameroon need a win over Brazil to have any chance of advancing to the last 16.
- Cameroon have not qualified for the knockout phase since their quarter-final appearance in 1990 and are without a win at the finals since 2002, after missing out in 2018 and losing all of their group stage games in 2010 and 2014.
- Brazil will once again be without forward Neymar and right back Danilo, both ruled out of the group stage by ankle injuries.
- Brazil, unbeaten in qualifying for Qatar, have won the World Cup five times and are favourites to win a record-extending sixth title. * Brazil have played in every World Cup since 1930 but have not reached the final since they last won the title in 2002.
Previous meetings:
- The two sides have met six times, including twice at World Cups, with Brazil winning five. Cameroon's lone victory came at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003.
