Brazil will start Sunday’s friendly against Croatia without Neymar, but the Paris Saint-Germain striker will make a second-half appearance and return from a three-month injury spell, coach Tite said on Saturday.
Neymar has been sidelined since Feb. 25, when he fractured a metatarsal and sprained his ankle in a Ligue 1 match against Marseille.
“He’s on the bench because he is still recovering,” Tite told reporters in Liverpool, where Sunday’s game will take place. “He will come on at half-time. Whom he replaces, I don’t know, but that is the idea.”
Tite said Neymar must be “a protagonist” for his country but added that the others players must also step up.
Tite also unveiled his starting XI for the match, with a front three of Philippe Coutinho, Gabriel Jesus and Willian and a midfield of Casemiro, Paulinho and Fernandinho playing in front of Danilo, Thiago Silva, Miranda and Marcelo, and Alisson in goal.
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