‘Everyone saw the lack Neymar made’, says Richarlison

Striker Richarlison, who did not enter the field in the 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, this Friday (2), says he is rooting for Neymar’s return in the round of 16. The main player of the national team is still recovering from an injury to his right ankle and the chances of returning are slim.

“He [Neymar] trained today, is well advancing [na recuperação]🇧🇷 I hope he comes back, everyone saw how much he was missed in these last few games. With his return, my role at the front improves, the whole team improves.”

According to defender Thiago Silva, Neymar should do a stronger test this Saturday (3). “Tomorrow it looks like there’s going to be more of a field test, I don’t know if he’s going to put on his boots. I think the pain he’s going to have, it’s part of it, I’ve already had this type of injury. But if everything goes well as planned, hope is that he is available, but that is up to Tite and the doctor.”

In this Friday’s match, Brazil finished 21 times, but only seven shots went towards the goal. For Richarlison, the team has created opportunities, but it is difficult to break through the blockade of the opponents.

“We are training a lot of finalizations, the balls that arrived I managed to send them into the goal. The finalizations also come from long distance because the opposing teams are playing very close”, said the striker.

The Brazilian team has also found more difficulties in the first half. In the first two games, he only scored in the second half. “Teams that play close end up getting tired in the second half, and that makes it easier for us”, says Richarlison.

In the round of 16, Brazil will face South Korea, whose main highlight is striker Son, Richarlison’s teammate at Tottenham.

“I know Son well, I know his qualities. But Korea is a strong team, we will try to neutralize their strengths.”