FIFA World Cup: Focus On Neymar As Brazil Arrive in Russia
Neymar has been often been referred to as the last South American footballer to practice the 'Ginga' football style.
Highlights
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Brazil FIFA World Cup squad are placed a notch behind holders Germany
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The Brazilians landed in the early hours in Soch
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Neymar has been referred as the last footballer to practice the 'Ginga'
The Brazil FIFA World Cup squad, placed a notch behind holders Germany on the rankings, squad arrived in Sochi, Russia, on Monday for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2018 slated to get underway from June 14. The Tite-managed side will have their focus set on Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar Jr. who is expected to prove to be a handful in the marquee tournament. Neymar, who is highly referred as the last footballer from the South American descent to carry the traditional 'Ginga' style of play, underwent an operation for his broken foot bone ahead of their quest to win a sixth World Cup.
The Brazilians landed in the early hours in Sochi, the Black Sea resort where they will be based, fresh from beating Austria 3-0 in their final warm-up match.
Neymar marked his first start in more than three months by scoring in the easy victory in Vienna while Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho also netted.
It was Neymar's 55th goal in a Brazil shirt, allowing him to draw level with Romario on his country's list of all-time leading scorers -- only Pele and Ronaldo have more goals for their country.
"I don't know Neymar's limits," Brazil coach Tite said. "His technical and creative capacity is impressive. When we get him in the last third of the field he is lethal."
Brazil, who crashed out of the last World Cup on home soil in a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany, start their campaign against Switzerland in Rostov-on-Don on Sunday.
Neymar, the world's most expensive player, joined fellow stars Lionel Messi of Argentina and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo on Russian soil as the clock ticks down to Thursday's curtain-raiser between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia.
A big question mark hangs over the participation of Egypt and Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, who is still receiving treatment for the shoulder injury he suffered in the Champions League final.
Egypt are banking on the availability of Salah as they try to get past the first stage of a World Cup for the first time.
The Egyptians arrived at their base in the Chechen capital Grozny on Sunday, after Salah sat out their final training session in Cairo.
Once they touched down, a track-suited Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was among the first to greet Salah.
(With AFP Inputs)
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