Raphinha ruled out of India vs Brazil clash with minor injury
Barcelona forward Raphinha has been withdrawn from Brazil’s squad and will miss the October 3 friendly against India in Kolkata after sustaining a minor thigh problem during Brazil’s 4-2 win over Australia in Brisbane, the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed.
An imaging examination on Wednesday showed a small amount of muscle oedema in the back of Raphinha’s right thigh; reports described the issue as minor but, given previous problems in the same area, Brazil elected not to risk him and he will return to Barcelona for treatment. No replacement is being called up for the India game, and Brazil are expected to arrive in Kolkata on October 1 for the fixture at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
The problem emerged during Brazil’s second meeting with Australia in Brisbane on Tuesday: Raphinha played the opening 45 minutes and converted a penalty but did not come out for the second half, with Brazil later confirming his withdrawal from the squad as a precaution.
Raphinha’s injury came on the night Brazil recorded their first win of the international window after being held to a 1-1 draw in the opening friendly; the second match finished 4-2 to Brazil. Vanderson opened the scoring, Australia then turned the game around, Raphinha’s spot-kick levelled before half-time, Bruno Guimaraes restored Brazil’s lead after the break and Vinicius Junior added a penalty to seal the victory.
Carlo Ancelotti used the two matches against Australia to assess his squad and combinations after the World Cup, with Vinicius Junior producing a strong second-half display and finishing the Brisbane game with a goal and an assist. Ancelotti’s travelling group still includes Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Bruno Guimaraes and Marquinhos for the Kolkata fixture.
India come into the Brazil match on the back of a 1-1 draw with Panama in Bengaluru on September 26, the hosts having taken the lead through Ryan Williams before Omar Valencia levelled in the second half. That result completed the first part of India’s three-match run against World Cup opposition ahead of Brazil on October 3 and Uruguay at the Salt Lake Stadium on October 6, meaning Khalid Jamil’s side will face two of South America’s biggest nations within three days.
Raphinha will not be available for India’s first senior international meeting with Brazil, but the tie proceeds as scheduled on October 3 and Brazil’s tour continues with the Uruguay match on October 6, with the spotlight on a Brazil side aiming to build momentum under Ancelotti.
