Spotlight On Neymar As Brazil Aim To Find Form

Neymar's fitness will be under the microscope on Friday as Brazil try to kickstart their World Cup campaign, anxious to avoid the kind of pitfall that has left Argentina and Lionel Messi facing an early exit.

Saint Petersburg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jun, 2018 ) :Neymar's fitness will be under the microscope on Friday as Brazil try to kickstart their World Cup campaign, anxious to avoid the kind of pitfall that has left Argentina and Lionel Messi facing an early exit.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar was subjected to rough treatment in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland, his first competitive appearance in almost four months, before hobbling out of the Rostov Arena.

The world's most expensive player then limped out of training session two days later with a sore right ankle, but Brazil coach Tite has confirmed he will start against Costa Rica in Saint Petersburg.

While Neymar sporadically showed flashes of his genius against Switzerland, he appeared to slow Brazil down at other times rather than keep the ball moving.

But Tite quashed rumours he has told the 26-year-old to play more in the team's best interests.

"Absolutely not. The information you got is not true," Tite responded to a Brazilian journalist.

"All of the players have this responsibility of playing for the collective (good) and being individuals." Thiago Silva will skipper the side as Tite continues his policy of rotating the captaincy, and the PSG centre-back admitted there is little margin for error.

"It's going to be a very difficult match given (Costa Rica's) loss in the first match, and a draw for us. There's pressure on both sides," Silva said.

"You must keep a cool head to play well and have a good performance." The fate of Argentina and Messi is a timely cautionary tale for Brazil.

Argentina crashed to a 3-0 loss against Croatia on Thursday that leaves the two-time champions facing an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout phase.

Brazil's opponents on Friday, surprise 2014 quarter-finalists Costa Rica, were beaten 1-0 by Serbia in their first game in Group E, and another defeat would mean elimination.