Neymar  | After suffering ligament damage in his right ankle during Brazil’s opening match against Serbia, the 30-year-old forward missed the team’s final two group games.

Despite losing to Cameroon, Brazil, one of the tournament favorites, still won Group G and advanced to the knockout round.

When asked on Sunday if Neymar will be able to return, Tite said in the affirmative.

Neymar will train today in the afternoon, and if he trains well, he will play, the speaker continued.

The Paris St. Germain player was injured during his country’s 2-0 victory over Serbia in the 80th minute and had to be substituted. He later called the accident “one of the hardest moments of my career.”

“Nothing in my life came easy, and I’ve always had to work for my objectives and goals,” Neymar wrote on Instagram. I have always assisted those in need and have never had any ill will against anyone.

I’m hurt, yeah, it will hurt, but I’m confident I’ll get the chance to recover because I’ll do everything in my power to serve my nation, my teammates, and myself.

Over the previous few years, Neymar has dealt with a lot of foot injuries, missing the 2019 Copa America due to damaged ligaments in his ankle and then needing many weeks to recuperate from a similar ailment in 2021.

Alex Telles and forward Gabriel Jesus have been ruled out for the remainder of the competition, although Brazil’s defender Danilo is also well enough to play again.

PREDICTION OF CHRIS SUTTON

South Korea arrived relatively late, but no matter what happens next, their World Cup will be remembered for the remarkable way they emerged from Group H.

They’ll give it their best shot, and they proved how well-organized they are at the back against Portugal, but I don’t believe they have enough at the other end to trouble Brazil.

Neymar’s potential return from injury could determine how close this is, but I believe Brazil will prevail even without him.

OOUTPUT STATS

Although this will be Brazil and South Korea’s seventh meeting, it will be their first ever in a competitive match. Six of the previous seven games (L1) have been won by Brazil, the most recent of which was a 5-1 triumph in June.
Brazil has dropped four of their last ten World Cup games. The 36 games they played in their previous four losses in the competition.
South Korea will play in its first World Cup knockout game since losing to Uruguay in the round of 16 in 2010.
In each of their last seven World Cup second-round games, Brazil has advanced. When they faced Argentina in 1990, they were last eliminated at this round.