Neymar is still the key to Brazil’s attack, even if he hasn’t fully recovered from a right foot injury. The five-time champions play their opening World Cup match on Sunday against Switzerland, and Neymar is expected to take his position at the front. “Neymar is not yet 100 percent,” Brazil coach Tite said on Saturday. “But physically, he is very privileged. His sprints, his speed are very impressive. He’s not 100 percent yet … but he’s good enough to play well.”
Neymar appeared relaxed in training at the empty 45,000-seat Rostov Arena, his bleached hair held back with a band. Tite said midfielder Fred, newly signed by Manchester United, is still recovering from an ankle injury and is the team’s only doubt. Six months after his record-breaking transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar fractured his right foot in February in a match against Marseille. Many in Brazil have been obsessively focused on his recovery, fretting over the national team’s promise to overcome their humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the 2014 semi-finals. Since Tite took over, Brazil have lost only once in 21 matches and was the first of 31 teams to qualify for the World Cup in Russia. After Switzerland, the Brazilians will take on Serbia and Costa Rica in Group E. “I’m happy with the way we’ve played,” Tite said. “What we have to do is replicate it at the World Cup.” Despite Brazil’s optimism, the team is wary of Sunday’s opponents. “They have two lines of defense and they do it very well. They also have speed in attack,” assistant coach Cleber Xavier said. “We’ve analyzed our opponents in great depth, and I think Switzerland is the strongest team we are going to face at the moment. Of course, that’s with the exception of Germany, which plays in a different league.” Brazil are the narrow favourites to lift the trophy for what would be a record-extending sixth time. They are targeting a first triumph since 2002 and only their second on European soil since 1958 in Sweden. Brazil have won three of their eight meetings with Switzerland, losing twice and drawing the other three. The two nations have only ever met once before at a World Cup, a 2-2 draw in 1950 when Brazil were hosting the tournament. Their last meeting was at a friendly in August 2013 which the Swiss won 1-0. With inputs from agencies Click here for full coverage of FIFA World Cup 2018 Click here to view the full schedule of FIFA World Cup 2018 Click here to view the points table of FIFA World Cup 2018


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