FIFA World Cup 2022 LIVE: BRA 1-0 KOR as Vinicius gives Brazil lead

Brazil’s Neymar in action during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. AP

Preview: Neymar appeared to have fully recovered from his ankle injury and was expected to return to Brazil’s starting lineup against South Korea in the round of 16 at the World Cup on Monday.

A smiling Neymar trained with teammates on Sunday in a practice session that was partially open to media. He appeared to no longer be bothered by the injury that kept him out of Brazil’s previous two matches.

Coach Tite had said earlier in the day that Neymar would play if all went well in the team’s final training session before the match against South Korea.

The Brazil forward missed two group matches after injuring his right ankle in the team’s opening win over Serbia. He was back training for the first time on Saturday.

Tite said he planned to use Neymar from the opening whistle instead of as a substitute if he’s healthy enough to play.

“I prefer to use my best player from the start,” Tite said. “It’s the coach who has to make that decision and take on that responsibility.”

Tite said left back Alex Sandro is out because of a hip injury, but right back Danilo will be available after recovering from a right ankle injury.

Brazil struggled without the playmaker but still won its group despite a loss to Cameroon in the last match.

This will be the first time Brazil and South Korea meet in an official match, with the Brazilians winning six of their seven friendlies, including 5-1 in June. South Korea’s only win came in 1999.

South Korea advanced in Qatar thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time goal by Hwang Hee-chan in a 2-1 victory over Portugal. The team had drawn with Uruguay in its opener and then lost to Ghana.

With inputs from AP 

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