Brazil booked their place in the 2018 World Cup knockout stage with Mexico on Thursday. Tite’s side are struggling to defend their preparation for the 2018 World Cup, in Russia.
Questions were raised when Renato Augusto, Danilo, Douglas Costa and Marcelo were all injured before and during the World Cup.
Augusto was the first to question the team’s preparations after declaring that the training program with the national team had caused inflammation in his left knee. The midfielder has hinted that he was not used to this type of training with his team in China.
After Costa’s injury to the muscle of his right thigh in the match against Costa Rica, it was the player’s wife who caused even more doubts about the team’s preparations, entrusting the Brazilian newspaper Extra with his training with Brazil was too intense and was used to lighter training sessions with the Italian club Juventus.
And when Marcelo had to be replaced after just 10 minutes in the match against Serbia, the doctors were immediately questioned about the team’s training load. But team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Marcelo’s injury was due to the type of mattress used at the team’s hotel, not because of too much training.
Team fitness coach Fabio Mahseredjian admitted that the training load needed to be adapted in cases like Augusto’s, but he defended the team’s training regimen during the World Cup.
“Injuries will happen, it is inevitable, and for the most varied reasons. Everything is under control.” said Mahseredjian, the day after the qualification of the Brazilians following their victory against Serbia.
Although none of the wounds was serious according to the doctors, it was unknown at the moment which player would be available for Monday’s match against Mexico in Samara.
Costa and Marcelo trained separately from their teammates on Friday, while Danilo was back with the rest of the team at the Sochi training session. Costa was present on the field but Marcelo was mainly doing re-education exercises.
The Brazilian football federation has revealed that Marcelo’s back condition has improved but is still unclear when he is fully recovered.
Costa and Danilo, who were treating a hip injury, had not made the trip with the rest of the team for the match against Serbia in Moscow. Doctors had stated that Costa’s problem would probably take longer to heal.
Meanwhile, Neymar suffered an ankle injury after the first match against Switzerland, but he was back in the game against Costa Rica and Serbia.
