Berlin: Brazil are one of the favourites for the 2018 World Cup, but injury to superstar Neymar still weakens the ‘Selecao’, Germany winger Leroy Sane said on Sunday.
“Brazil aren’t as dependent on Neymar as they were in 2014,” said Manchester City winger Sane.
“They are better positioned and have a few new stars, but it still makes a big difference whether Neymar plays or not.”
Germany host Brazil in a mouth-watering friendly at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on Tuesday as part of both teams’ build-up to June’s World Cup in Russia.
It will be their first meeting since the Germans stunned Brazil with five goals inside half an hour in a 7-1 romp in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup.
Just as back then, Brazil forward Neymar is sidelined by injury. This time the world’s most expensive player is recovering from foot surgery.
He is expected to be fit in time for the World Cup, which kicks off on June 14.
Brazil beat Russia 3-0 on Friday with three goals in 13 minutes by Miranda, Paulinho and a Philippe Countinho penalty at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium, which hosts the World Cup final on July 15.
Germany warmed up with a 1-1 draw with Spain in Duesseldorf as Rodrigo Moreno’s early goal for the visitors was cancelled out by Thomas Mueller’s first-half strike. Germany head coach Joachim Loew has said the 7-1 rout will remain a subject “for the next 10, 20 or 30 years” whenever the teams meet. — AFP
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