Journalist Mario Cortegana has claimed that Real Madrid pair Rodrygo and Eder Militao are likely to start Brazil’s next game at the World Cup in Qatar.
Both were benched for the Selecao Canarinha’s opening victory over Serbia, but attacker Neymar and defender Danilo both picked up injuries which will rule them out of the next game against Switzerland.
According to Cortegana, the Real Madrid stars, who heavily impressed in last season’s run to Champions League glory, would be the expected replacements for both, who look likely to miss the rest of the group stage.
“Rodrygo could replace the first and the logical thing would be for Militao to do so with the second,” Cortegana tweeted in response to the news that the Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain stars were injured.
TIF thoughts on Rodrygo and Militao
Whilst both are top-quality talents who deserve to start at the tournament, they can both consider themselves unlucky that their chances are coming out of their natural positions.
Neymar lined up as a number ten behind Richarlison against Serbia and although Rodrygo can slot in there, his natural position as a right-winger will still be occupied by Barcelona’s Raphinha.
Militao meanwhile, will be filling in at right-back, with Chelsea’s Thiago Silva and PSG’s Marquinhos in his preferred role in the centre.
Nevertheless, if both impress, they will give Tite a real headache should Brazil progress to the knockout rounds and the injured pair return, as he may deem them undroppable should they put on a good display against Switzerland.