Marquinhos misses Brazil training session with injury

• According to team staff, there is no concern about his availability for the World Cup

Brazil defender Marquinhos missed training yesterday with an undisclosed injury that also ruled him out of his club side Paris St Germain’s 5-0 win over Auxerre on Sunday.With just nine days to go until Brazil’s opening World Cup match against Serbia, the defender, a certain first-choice starter under coach Tite, underwent physiotherapy while the rest of his teammates worked on the pitch at Juventus’s facilities in Turin. Marquinhos later joined the group but only for a light jog at the end of the session. According to Brazil staff, there is no concern about his availability for the World Cup.PSG had described the injury as “muscular discomfort” prior to the game against Auxerre, the final Ligue 1 match before the World Cup break.His PSG teammate, Neymar, took part after missing Brazil’s first training session on Monday, having arrived late due to problems with his flight from Paris to Turin, where Brazil are holding a five-day camp before flying to Doha on Saturday.Only 14 players had participated in on-field training on Monday, as those who played for their clubs over the weekend worked in the gym.Yesterday, however, Tite ran intense drills working on keeping possession in tight spaces involving the entire squad, except Marquinhos, for a little over an hour. Juventus defender Danilo said that the players were tired due to European soccer’s tight schedule caused by having a World Cup in mid-season.He added that the main focus of Brazil’s technical staff in the first two days in Turin has been to evaluate the physical condition of the players and manage the activity load.“I heard many times the theory that the players would arrive in peak conditions because of a World Cup in November but we are all worn out because of the schedule,” Danilo told a news conference yesterday.“We are not used to playing every three or four days and it’s important to rest the next few days. “That’s why I think it was a great decision to hold a training camp in Europe, close to where most of the players live, a short trip, no time or weather adaptation. “It will be an advantage to focus on health so we can arrive in the best shape possible in Qatar.”Brazil open their World Cup Group G campaign against Serbia on Nov. 24 before facing Switzerland and Cameroon.World Cup to bring Brazilians together again, says RaphinhaBrazil’s Barcelona winger Raphinha said the World Cup is a good moment to bring out the feeling of togetherness in the Brazilian people again as he recalled his country winning the 2002 title. Raphinha, who made his Brazil debut in October 2021, will be appearing at his first World Cup in Qatar. “I’m ready for the World Cup and I’m working hard to get there as good as I possibly can, both physically and mentally,” Raphinha said in an interview published by Barca yesterday.“The atmosphere is that of a winning national team, ambitious and wanting to win the title. There’s a good vibe amongst the whole team.“I don’t see it as pressure, a team like Brazil is always a contender for the World Cup or any other title that they play for. The demand of the fans is normal because we are a high-quality team, with big names.”Raphinha joined Barcelona in July from Premier League side Leeds United to follow in the footsteps of Brazilian greats such as Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar at the Nou Camp.“It is normal that the fans are anxious for Brazil to win the sixth World Cup, and so are we,” the 25-year-old said as he remembered their 2-0 win over Germany in the final in Japan 20 years ago thanks to two goals from Ronaldo. “I don’t remember too much about the 2002 World Cup because I was very young. (But) it was an incredible and indescribable feeling. All the Brazilian people hugged and were united. Now it’s a good moment for it to bring us all together again.”Raphinha, who has 11 caps and has five international goals including three in World Cup qualifiers, is hopeful of repeating Brazil’s 2002 triumph – their record fifth world title.“I promise that if we win the World Cup I will do the same as I did when we managed to keep Leeds in the Premier League last season, when I walked across the pitch on my knees,” he said.Brazil’s record does not make them favourites: RodrygoBrazil forward Rodrygo said they cannot be considered favourites to win a record-extending sixth World Cup in Qatar just because of their glittering record, but believes they have all the qualities needed to succeed.Brazil finished top of the CONMEBOL qualifying group with a superb unbeaten record and six points ahead of Copa America champions Argentina.“We’re not the big favourites just because we have the five stars on the crest of our jersey,” Rodrygo told Marca in an interview. “We’re among the strongest, that’s for sure, but there are other great teams.“In a World Cup there is no single favourite because there are strong teams, but we’re aware that we have a very strong group and we have everything we need to win the World Cup.”Rodrygo said arch-rivals Argentina could pose a threat after their continental success.“This is a World Cup and it’s difficult. But, after winning the Copa America, they showed that they’re very dangerous,” the former Santos player added.