AFAIK you don't want to mess around and force playing with a poorly healed hamstring injury. It can compromise the rest of your career. Specifically for players who rely on that quick step. I know it's a tough decision, but if I am Lamine and Estevão ... I'd consider skipping the WC rather than risking it. They are both young and will have other WCs to play.
Despite all the breaking news at the end of the week, there hasn't really been a deifnitive, final word on what is happening with Estêvão and Militão. About Estêvão, supposedly Chelsea is not in agreement with his team right now on the alternative treatment. As for Militão, according to Globo he is actually doing a third exam tomorrow, because the first two had too much scar tissue and/or fluid to properly see things. https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebo...unda-para-saber-real-gravidade-de-lesao.ghtml UOL's report, though the headline says he is out, does not actually 100% says he is out, but I don't think that anything will change, it's just defining what surgery he will need. https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/fute...militao-copa-do-mundo-selecao-brasileira.ghtm The big question mark left is Alisson, who is about ready to come back for Liverpool. He did not play or stay on the bench yesterday, but he is expected to be available next match. Liverpool have 4 matches left. Ederson had a poor match today. He also got a red card, though that was a second yellow for spitting, so, not something to draw conclusions from. Bento had a good match Wednesday and his next match is this Wednesday. Wesley played 90 minutes this weekend. Didn't stand out, but they won away form home and the important thing is he is fit right now. He has four serie A games left to play this season, just one every week basically until May 24. João Pedro also played 90 minutes today (subbed out at 90), also didn't stand out and had a low rating. The other currently injured player is Paquetá, who is expected back next week, but hopefully gets plenty of rest and rotation since Flamengo play twice a week for the next 5 weeks.
Final verdict on Militão, he is out until October: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebo...rca-feita-e-so-volta-a-jogar-em-outubro.ghtml No final word on Estêvão yet. I imagine he's looking at the alternatives and trying to convince Chelsea or get additional opinions. Some good news for Casemiro, and any player who lives on the edge of getting a yellow card: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/72...cle_twitter&smid=tw-share-ta?source=twitteruk Apparently FIFA is considering resetting yellow cards after the group stage and after the quarters, thanks to the extra match. I think I predicted (or suggested?) this in a thread earlier. It makes sense with 8 matches. Instead of 6 matches, then resetting, it will now be three, three and two. It keeps the previous policy of resetting after the quarters to avoid someone missing the final due to yellows. But it avoids lengthening the prior period which would make suspensions early in the knock-outs more likely.
Looks like Estêvão is in a sort of limbo right now: https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/fute...ao-trata-lesao-e-vive-impasse-com-chelsea.htm
Caio Henrique came in as a sub for Monaco today. He's not expected to be called up, but if one of the left-backs gets injured I think it's between him and Kaiki for the replacement. Vanderson is still not back for them. Monaco only have two matches left, next Sunday and May 17, the last matchday for the French league.
Endrick had a goal today and a decent game it seems. Had some nice passes including a brilliant pass that led to a PK for the second goal. In the end it was a 4x2 win over a teammate also competing for a Champions League spot. He has two matches left, Sunday and Sunday. With Lille's draw, Lyon depend only on themselves to reach the CL. Alexsandro was once again on the bench for Lille and did not play. In Italy they're down to 3 weeks left. Bremer played 90 minutes for Juventus and has 3 matches left. Wesley's Roma plays tomorrow and then has 3 matches. Inter confirmed the title today. Carlos Augusto played 23mins as a sub and Inter have 3 league matches and the cup final left. Douglas Santos and Luiz Henrique had good games yesterday for Zenit. LH had a nice goal and both played 90 minutes with good ratings. They have only two matches left.
Saw Endrick's goal . Class finish. Haven't looked up the highlights. Vini also scored two really great goals. He plays better without Mbappe who seems to be resting for the WC. The way Pedro has been playing, I wouldn't mind having him in the squad. But I am pretty sure that's out of the question.
I agree. I know it's not going to happen, but I wish we called up more players specifically for these kinds of cases. Pedro probably doesn't fit in as well on the national team or more intense play, but if you could bring in more than 26 players to training camp, you could test a few options that are in great form or couldn't make it last time. So not just Pedro but maybe Vanderson and Caio Henrique. Maybe a goalkeeper since Ederson and Hugo Souza and even Bento are shaky. But apparently it's too traumatic for Brazilian players to be cut from a WC training camp. Convocação is two weeks from tomorrow... I can't wait to spend the whole week after that listening to pundits, even outside of Brazil, talking about Neymar not being on the list. Having a Pedro or a couple of other people fighting for a spot might even reduce some of the Neymar talk.
Rafael Oliveira completed his analysis of Brazil's group opponents this weekend. I knew Morocco had fired their coach, but it was interesting to hear some insight and what that might mean for us. Apparently the new coach is likelier to play more offensively, rather than be the reactive team that got Morocco to the semis last team. That could be good for us in the opening match.
Those two Vini goals are the kind of play that would change Brazilian fans' perspective on him if he could do that a few times with the national team. But they also depend on a well positioned number 9 playing alongside him. Chelsea continue to do really poorly. But João Pedro got credit from fans for being one of the only guys on the team who seems to try. Andrey started on the bench again. He came in just before the 60 minute mark but it was already 3x0 to Nottingham Forest. (Igor Jesus scored the second goal on a penalty). Andrey got a decent rating for his minutes and João Pedro scored a great bicycle kick, but it was too little too late. Definitely worth a watch:
And Estêvão is back in Brazil, rehabbing at Palmeiras, though the national team is not optimistic that he'll be ready in time: https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...monitora-mas-ve-ida-a-copa-como-dificil.ghtml
More news today, this time from Manchester United. Looks like United have agreed to rest Matheus Cunha for the remaining three matches of the season since they have nothing to play for (they are in the Champions League and no amount of wins or losses will get them the title or lose them the spot). https://www.espn.com.br/futebol/sel...-cunha-poupado-reta-final-causa-copa-do-mundo Matheus Cunha is apparently nursing an adductor injury so it's a relief that he'll be able to rest.
Why is there so much talk about Estevao? This season his stats are 2 goals and 2 assists. I've watched a lot of Chelsea matches this season, and Estevao is just not good enough to be called up while being injured and out of form. Look at all the talk surrounding Neymar — everyone says he shouldn't be called up because of his physical condition and so on. Ancelotti himself said that players must be 100% physically ready, so I believe the question about Estevao should be closed. It's better to call up Neymar; he would be much more useful and is far more experienced. Back in the day, legends like Romario in 2002, or Ronaldinho and Neymar in 2010 were left out, and they were much better then than Estevao is now. His decision-making is very poor; aside from his dribbling, there's nothing extraordinary about him yet. This year, there are many players who deserved a call-up more than he did. Yes, he is a very talented kid and might have a great future ahead of him, but he hasn't earned a spot at this World Cup, especially while being injured and out of shape.
Neymar should have stayed outside Brazil until this WC. Obviously he gets easily distracted by the environment. Probably the last chance for him to play WC football
About Estêvão, he was the best player for Ancelotti last year. He clearly earned his spot. You have to wonder how much of his performance at Chelsea was affected by the injury and the growth that may even have contributed to that injury. All that said, I don't think he has a real chance of making the World Cup. It sounds like it would take a miracle. As for Neymar, @Radu Razvan I don't know if you knew this or were referring to this when you posted, but the latest Neymar mess is that he assaulted Robinho Jr. in training for dribbling him. Some say it has been sorted out, but now Robinho Jr.'s staff want the images to be released and want Santos to handle the situation legally. It's another pathetic chapter in Neymar's return and adds even more people who once supported him to those that think there's no way he should go to the World Cup.
No, I didn't but straight away I found the news when searching the Neymar stats this year with Santos
Arsenal just qualified for the Champions League final, which means that Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli will miss the first week at Granja Comary and only join the team on May 31 or June 1.
Leaving out Ronaldinho, Neymar, and Ganso in 2010 and attempting to play pedantic football was a historic mistake; same would be the case if Estevao is left out if fit. As Ombak said, Estevao was easily Brazil's best player until he got injured and could not play.
Neymar scored today and was easily the Man of the Match. He’s slowly getting back to his best fitness, which is great to see. The guy is a genius; Brazil simply doesn't have another playmaker at his level right now. Regarding the conflict, word is he already apologized, and the locker room is actually backing him. Apparently, the squad sees Robinho Jr. as a spoiled kid who was just looking for clout by taking the incident public, rather than actually being concerned about his safety.
I'm of the opinion that the incident doesn't matter a lot because Ancelotti and the coaching staff don't really see Neymar as a realistic option and haven't seen him as a realistic option for a long time. I don't think the door was always closed, I just think it was a scenario with a high probability for them and it only ever went down. All the rumors of sponsor pressure or internal pressure largely come from reporters (or influencers) who aren't close to the national team. Whereas those who cover the national team closely and reliably consistently say there's no internal pressure to call up Neymar and don't report on outside pressure. The incident matters a little bit of course, but I don't think it moves the needle much at this stage. It's just another example of his behavior not being what Ancelotti needs from his squad members. And let's be honest, if Neymar were to be called up, he'd be a squad member, not a starter. I still think if he were serious about getting on the squad, he should have taken a different approach in the first place and done everything he could to show he could be a positive influence from the bench, not trying to play 90 minutes.
PSG just qualified for the Champions League final, which means that Marquinhos will also join the team late. Also, FIFA confirmed today that teams in the Libertadores and Sulamericana will not be required to release their players early. For the national team this means that the Flamengo players, Danilo (Botafogo) and others (like Hugo Souza if he makes it) will join the team late. However, I hope that if teams have first place guaranteed, like Flamengo could if things go well, they will release them early. https://ge.globo.com/sp/futebol/lib...-grupos-de-libertadores-e-sul-americana.ghtml This applies to players from any national team.
Was watching TNT this morning and Monique Danello, who covers the national team for them, said one interesting thing about the preliminary list: unlike other international breaks, the list for the World Cup is NOT sent to clubs, only to FIFA. I don't know why this is. Maybe there is no risk of a club preventing a player from going, so they don't have to be notified? But if this is the case, it will be a lot less likely to leak. In fact, that's something they joked about after she brought it up: that they will still be texting their club sources to see if they can discover anything, but it will be a lot harder.