'Neymar is irreplaceable'
Brazil head coach Tite will not have PSG's record signing at his disposal as he gets his team ready to face Russia. The national side manager has revealed he won't be looking for a like-for-like replacement.
Neymar, who is currently recovering from surgery he underwent after suffering a broken metatarsal, will be out of action for the coming months.
The man expected to fill his boots is Juventus forward Douglas Costa, who has impressed in Turin this year. Nevertheless, Tite has underlined that it won't be as simple as a straight swap: "Neymar is very important for us and cannot be replaced but Douglas Costa is not replacing him, he is going to be Douglas Costa."
Brazil are currently bracing the cold in Russia as they gear up for an acclimatisation friendly against the World Cup hosts.
With Coutinho, Costa, Willian and Firmino, Tite will not be short of attacking threat in Friday's clash, but it will still be difficult to fill the Neymar shaped hole left in his side.