Brazil set to ring changes for Cameroon clash

After enjoying a Saturday off, Brazil returned well rested on Sunday as they hit the training ground in Milton Keynes for this first time.

The Selecao have travelled north from London for their final match of 2018, as the Brasil Global Tour pits them against Cameroon in Milton Keynes.

On a very cold early evening at Stadium MK, the majority of the players who led Brazil to a 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday did only a light workout before sitting out the second half of the session.

Indeed, Neymar didn’t appear at all on Sunday, instead working with Tite’s physical preparation specialists in the gym.

Only those in line to start for a much-changed Brazil on Tuesday were given a full workout, including the likes of Allan, Richarlison and Willian.

The trio teamed up in a small-sided match that took up the majority of the workout and that Gabriel Jesus was on the opposing side suggests he may have to make do with a role among the substitutes for the second time this month.

Defender Dede and Pablo, meanwhile, look set to start after being put forward for the post-training press conference and both will be hopeful of impressing enough to earn a recall in March and, ultimately, a place in Tite’s Copa America squad come June.

Tite and his staff plan to use March’s Brasil Global Tour double-header as a finishing school as he whittles down his final 23 for the Copa America squad, and competition for places is high.

“I did not come to fight for the position against anyone, Pablo is here on merit, and certainly dreaming, just like me,” Dede said.

“I’ve had the opportunity to play with Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, and if I have to play with Pablo or Miranda it will be very special for me and I’ll do my best to help everyone. We all hold out hope for ourselves and our team-mates, especially good people like Pablo.”

Tite’s central-defensive duo at the World Cup, Thiago Silva and Miranda, are now both 34-years-old and were expected to be moved on ahead of June’s Copa Ameirca.

But Thiago Silva has made one squad and Miranda has impressed in the Brasil Global Tour matches post-Russia 2018, with Pablo insisting the duo are far from ‘past it’.

“Of course, the older you are, the more care you have to take of yourself, but we’ve seen World Cup players 38, 40 years old,” said the Boudreaux stopper.

“I’m 27, a little below them, but I believe that modern football has reached a different level. At the top, nothing can disrupt the mature players.”

Brazil return to Stadium MK at 17:00 local time on Monday for their final training session ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Cameroon at the same venue.

source: Goal