by Antony ‘misses Brazil training through illness’ as injury problems start piling up for Tite, with ‘Lucas Paqueta and Alisson also out’ after Neymar was left out of the group stages of the World Cup with an ankle problem
Brazil are monitoring striker Antony’s fitness after the Manchester United man reportedly missed training through illness on Friday.
Tite’s side have already lost Neymar and Danilo to injury after their World Cup opener but the favorites are now sweating they will be missing another man for their game against Switzerland on Monday.
According to The Sun, Antony was one of many players to miss training alongside Lucas Paqueta and Alisson.
Forward Antony reportedly missed World Cup training in Brazil due to illness on Friday
Star man Neymar has already been ruled out of the group stages after suffering an ankle injury
The severity of the illness is unclear at this stage but Tite hopes he can call the 22-year-old on Monday.
He came on as a second-half substitute in their 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday, playing 10 minutes after being introduced for Neymar.
The striker had missed United’s final games before the Premier League break for the tournament but the issues are not believed to be linked.
Meanwhile, Brazil refused to send Neymar out of the World Cup but he is unlikely to play again until the round of 16 after twisting his ankle in the game against Serbia.
Real Madrid striker Rodrygo is most likely to replace him against Switzerland on Monday, and Tite won’t risk his playmaker in the third group game against Cameroon if he thinks Brazil can progress without him.
Alisson (left) and Lucas Paqueta (right) were also reportedly absent from Friday’s session
Right-back Danilo also picked up an ankle injury in their win over Serbia on Thursday.
Tite could also bring in Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli or his Gunners team-mate Gabriel Jesus to replace Neymar, while Flamengo’s Pedro is also an option.
Right-back Danilo, who also picked up an ankle injury against Serbia, will also sit out the two remaining group matches, and his absence could mean a World Cup return for Dani Alves at the age of 39 years old.
Brazil will be confident of qualifying comfortably for the knockout stages despite the absence of Neymar after their comfortable victory on Thursday in arguably their toughest game of the group stages.
