Real Madrid News
Rodrygo in line to start for Brazil against Cameroon, Vinicius to be rested – report
At the end of the second round of the group stage at the FIFA World Cup 2022, only three teams had cemented their spot in the Round of 16 – France, Portugal, and Brazil. Of the three, it would be safe to say that the South Americans have had the best run.
Tite’s side began their tournament with a resounding 2-0 win over Serbia before beating Switzerland by one goal. With their qualification guaranteed, the manager will look to shuffle his cards in the final group stage game when Brazil take on Cameroon.
According to reports from Globo, Real Madrid ace Rodrygo Goes is expected to start the game against Cameroon in what will be his first start in the World Cup. Further, Eder Militao is expected to feature from kickoff as well, but Vinicius Jr is set to be benched.
Rodrygo has appeared as a substitute in both of Brazil’s World Cup games so far. He was particularly impressive in the win against Switzerland as he got the assist for the only goal of the game scored by Casemiro.
And, it looks like the 21-year-old forward is set to be rewarded with a starting berth for the clash against Cameroon.
Earlier this week, Rodrygo was interviewed by Ronaldo in which the youngster commented about starting a game in the near future. “I’m ready. Next game or after that, I am ready,” he said.
The Real Madrid youngster has made a strong impression in the tournament so far with one assist in two games. With a dream start at his doorstep, it remains to be seen how he makes use of it.
Vinicius has also been a bright spark for Brazil at the World Cup and given his importance to the team, it would make sense for Tite to save him for the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Eder Militao, who started at right-back against Switzerland, is likely to feature in his natural centre-half role in the Cameroon clash as per the report.
The Copa America runners-up do not have much on the line, and even a draw will secure them a table-top finish. However, a defeat could push them to second if Switzerland put enough past Serbia and take three points.
Real Madrid fans were dealt with a massive blow when star player Antonio Rudiger was left out of the squad against Real Valladolid, allegedly due to knee discomfort.
The injury sparked fears over his absence in the upcoming Copa Del Rey semifinal against Barcelona.
However, according to a report from Sergio Quirante, Rudiger’s knee injury is not thought to be serious. It appears the decision to leave him out of the squad against Valladolid may only be a precaution, with the defender set to undergo ultrasonic tests tomorrow.
Rudiger, whose injury scare came just 48 hours before Real Madrid’s big game against Barcelona, has been a stellar success in the club’s backline this season.
The German international has emerged as a real leader at the back, using his experience and authority to good effect. Although Real Madrid’s defence has left a lot to be desired this season, Rudiger has been one of the bright sparks.
His potential absence, therefore, could serve as a major blow for Los Blancos, in their hopes to reach the Copa Del Rey semifinal next week.
Real Madrid are heading into this semifinal with a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, meaning keeping a clean sheet could be mandatory if they are to overturn the deficit and book a place in the final. Rudiger, in that regard, could prove to be a vital asset.
In the meantime, Real Madrid are heading into the Valladolid game with David Alaba and Eder Militao as two of the only reliable centre-backs in the team. Among the two, Alaba has struggled with injuries this season, so it will be interesting to see how Carlo Ancelotti deals with this tricky situation this afternoon.
