Neymar to miss Brazil’s last group game at World Cup
Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo and midfielder Gareth Bale will miss the last game of Brazil’s campaign, which starts against Ivory Coast in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, as they take part in the Confederations Cup.
Neymar, now captain, is also on the sidelines, because he is set to undergo groin surgery on Wednesday.
“I think it’s best that you rest, you have to wait for the rehabilitation to be done, which is four or five weeks, and then you have to go back, because you know how they react at this time, and in the next couple of days to recover,” coach Dunga said.
The Brazilian is set to face an injection of a powerful steroid.
Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is keen to play in the Confederations Cup but has not been invited to join the Brazilian national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo could play for Spain in Brazil this summer after Real Madrid’s new coach, Jose Mourinho took a liking to his style of play.
Mourinho has had his eye on him this season, and when he watched some of the Ronaldo video analysis by his assistants, a big decision was made.
He has also discussed the possibility of giving Cristiano a call-up to his squad, while it’s in Brazil’s last five games, and that may happen soon, according to Portuguese newspaper Diario Sport.
“For sure, I had a chat in the last minutes with [coach] Fabio Capello about who we should play and he asked me who would be the best choice for the Confederations Cup,” Ronaldo said.
“I told him: ‘I think I can pass,’ and he told me he did not want to play for Argentina or Brazil, but maybe he could play for Spain in the Confederations Cup because we could get him some minutes in the competition against Real Madrid.”
Ronaldo said he has been studying English since he was very young, and will also have to speak a little Spanish.
“For sure, I spoke to him in the last minutes, but we are in Brazil, and we have to go there and play,” he said.
“I am very happy that I will be able to play for Spain in the Confederations Cup and it is going to be great,