Portugal vs Uruguay confirmed line-ups ahead of World Cup 2022 fixture

1) Portugal - P1 W1 D0 L0 - points 3

2) Ghana - P2 W1 D0 L1 - points 3

Uruguay head coach Diego Santos: “We would have loved to win in the first match, that’s for sure, but we cannot underestimate the opponent, we cannot underestimate the result we had either.

“We are here to win games, that’s our ultimate goal, and we want to give our best. But at the same time we know in a competition it is difficult, that you need to bring your best and sometimes even if you perform well (or not), anything can happen.

“Of course Portugal have a very good squad, excellent players, a wonderful coach with wide experience. They’re a dangerous team. But on the other hand we also have our own arguments, our own weapons. We will try to win. We will bring our ‘A’ game. Lets see what happens.”

Portugal boss Fernando Santos admits he has been left baffled by the rib injury sustained by Danilo Pereira in training ahead of their World Cup clash with Uruguay.

A statement on the Portuguese Football Federation’s official website on Saturday said the Paris Saint-Germain player was unavailable having “suffered a fracture of three costal arches”.

Santos told a press conference on Sunday: “That’s a type of injury that no-one can explain. We do not understand how that could have happened.

“It’s normal that these type of injuries happen, but we did not see how it happened exactly. Initially we did not think it was very serious, because we made a few exams to see if he was breathing properly and apparently that was the case, but afterwards we see that it was more serious than we expected. But we are following it up.”

Portugal coach Fernando Santos drafted in veteran defender Pepe, 39, to replace the injured Danilo Pereira in the centre of his back line while captain Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead the attack.

Santos also moved to strengthen his midfield by bringing in William Carvalho to take the place of Otavio who was an injury concern in the build-up to Portugal’s second match in Group H which they lead after beating Ghana 3-2 last week.

Portugal: Diogo Costa, Joao Cancelo, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, William Carvalho, Joao Felix, Cristiano Ronaldo.

After Uruguay’s 0-0 draw with South Korea in their opening match of the tournament, Alonso also gave starts to defenders Sebastian Coates and Guillermo Varela in the place of attacking midfielder Facundo Pellistri and defender Martin Caceres.

“We can’t stop talking about Neymar,” Casemiro had said in the build up to this latest game of Brazil’s quest to win a sixth World Cup. After his winning goal against Switzerland, they’ll only be talking about him.

With this side’s talismanic No 10 injured and watching wave after wave of pressure go unrewarded from afar, it was left to the defensive midfielder with just five international goals to his name to do his best impression of the absent hero.

The strike was a sweet one, struck hard and to Yann Sommer’s left, the Swiss keeper left with no chance as it arrowed into the corner. The relief in the stadium - and no doubt the team hotel where the laid up No 10 was watching on - was palpable. Neymar will play again at this World Cup, Tite insists, but in what condition remains to be seen, the treatment on the injured ankle that reduced him to tears in the final minutes against Serbia set to continue to the end of the group stages at the very least.

Match report by Ben Burrows at the Stadium 974

Brazil 1-0 Switzerland: The Selecao were frustrated by the Swiss until the Manchester United midfielder’s late hit

Gary Neville thinks they can reach the final. “They can. I though Spain vs Germany was the best game so far but Brazil are not playing that company yet. I expect them to rise to the occasion [when they do]. They are defending well and have showed they can change games from the bench. I think they are in a good place.”

What happens when a superstar forward, with the weight of a nation on his shoulders for the third World Cup running, sustains an injury in match No 1? After the period of mourning, there is discussion. 40 minutes of it.

Brazil’s pre-match press conference on Sunday – involving manager Tite, defender Marquinhos and Tite’s assistant Cesar Sampaio – was mostly devoted to the world’s most expensive player and the effect of his absence for the rest of the group-phase. “Football’s about context and sometimes we have to be strategic,” said Tite. “We have to think outside the box but we’re very confident we have the right replacement.”

So, who would it be? An abundance of terrific depth in attack, deeper than any other team in the tournament, should cover for the loss of the prodigal son. So, would it be one of Arsenal’s dynamic duo: Gabriel Jesus or Gabriel Martinelli? Maybe Manchester United’s £85m signing Antony? Or Real Madrid young gun Rodrygo? Or how about… Fred?

The Man Utd midfielder deputised for Brazil’s star player against Switzerland despite an array of attacking options in the squad