Neymar sets happy tone as Brazil limber up for World Cup qualifier with Bolivia
Samba Boys can afford to smile as the only team from South America already qualified for Russia 2018
NEYMAR and his Brazilian teammates look in the mood for a World Cup frolic.
And no wonder.
Going into Thursday's qualifier with Bolivia the Samba Boys are content to be the only South American group side to have already booked their place at Russia 2018.
That makes their visit to La Paz and next Tuesday's home match with Chile dead rubbers.
On Tuesday Neymar seemed to be battling a toe injury. But today he and the lads laughed and joked their way through training at their Teresopolis base.
Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho will start against Bolivia ahead of Chelsea’s Willian.
Wideman Willian started both September qualifiers ahead of Coutinho but head coach Tite confirmed:
“The game system is similar. I have a more vertical and sharp player that attacks spaces [Willian], and a constructor [Coutinho].
“We go through situations with Coutinho that you know well and now he returns to the team. There are two very strong possibilities.”
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil have won nine out of their last 10 matches and are starting to play their renowned carefree, carpet-style of football again.
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Expectations are high: and in Russia the team want to erase the memory of that 7-1 humiliation by Germany on home ground in the 2014 World Cup.
Said Tite: "We are at a stage of strengthening, consolidating and growing.
"We're not in the comfort zone stage but rather a confidence zone stage."
But Tite, who called up four newcomers to his latest squad, says there are still spaces available for next summer.
“Actions speak for themselves," he added.
“Summoning four newcomers shows that we are attentive for the next eight months.
"It is an important time to consolidate, to grow, so there is that space.
"It's fair competition.”
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