Vinicius set to step in for Rodrygo as Brazil faces Venezuela in World Cup qualifier
Brazil's head coach Dorival Jr announced that forward Vinicius Junior (24) will take the place of the injured Rodrygo (23) in the starting lineup for Thursday's South American World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.
Vinicius, who was sidelined during Brazil's victories over Peru and Chile last month due to a neck injury, is set to return after Rodrygo sustained a muscle injury during Saturday's 4-0 victory against Osasuna in LaLiga.
Additionally, Eder Militao, a fellow Brazilian player, will undergo surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury incurred in the same match.
"We have encountered several challenging situations recently. Unfortunately, injuries have been occurring one after another, now with Militao," Dorival remarked during a press conference on Wednesday.
He also mentioned that midfielder Andre and left-back Guilherme Arana will be evaluated to determine their fitness for the upcoming match against Uruguay next week, as both missed training due to medical issues.
"A more thorough assessment will be conducted following the Venezuela match to implement any necessary adjustments. For the time being, we aim to recover from the way the injuries have been managed," he stated.
Brazil's all-time leading scorer, Neymar, made his return to Al Hilal last month after a year-long recovery from a severe knee injury. However, he has faced another setback due to a hamstring injury sustained in last week's 3-0 victory over Iranian team Esteghlal in the Asian Champions League Elite.
"Neymar's comeback has been gradual. Enduring such a situation is not easy; it builds strength and resilience. While no one wishes for such occurrences, they happen," he noted.
"We are supporting all of them and hoping for a swift recovery."
Dorival emphasized that his team aims to build on the momentum gained from their recent victories, which have positioned them fourth in the South American qualifying standings with 16 points from 10 matches.
"If we can replicate our performance from the last two games, we will continue to gain momentum. Nothing is finalized yet. We are demonstrating improvement, even if it is not at the level we aspire to."
SportsLigue