Author: Soorya G
The Seleção’s starting full-backs are all injured, but several substitutes have been called up. Brazil coach Fernando Diniz has had a problem with his full-backs during this international break due to injuries, which has led to eight different players being called up. Diniz initially called on Danilo and Vanderson for the right-back position, and Caio Henrique and Renan Lodi for the left. However, they all had to withdraw from the team due to injuries.
Danilo played in the 1-1 draw against Venezuela last Thursday, but suffered a muscle injury in his left thigh during the first half and had to be substituted. After the match, he confirmed that he would not be fit to face Uruguay on Tuesday in Montevideo.
Diniz has therefore called up four more full-backs. At left-back, Carlos Augusto and Guilherme Arana were given their debuts. Arana was in the starting line-up against Venezuela. As for right-back, the first call-up was for another newcomer, Yan Couto, from Girona in Spain, and on Friday, Emerson Royal, from Tottenham, was included in the squad.
“We need to be aware that we’re making the transition from a completely positional game to a completely non-positional one, it’s like night and day. You need time to adapt to all kinds of games, and we don’t really have that. We had two days of training” said Danilo. He emphasized that patience is needed until Brazil adapts to Diniz’s style.
Of the full-backs who were part of the World Cup squad, only Danilo was called up in both of Diniz’s selections. The others were Alex Sandro, Alex Telles and Dani Alves. Éder Militão, who played as a full-back at the World Cup but is currently injured, was also part of the team in Qatar. However, Danilo was injured, which led to Royal’s inclusion.