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Football London
Sport
Josh Holland

Casemiro makes Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus joke amid Neymar World Cup blow for Brazil

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has joked that the Brazil national team 'feel sorry' for their opponents due to the array of talent in the attacking areas.

The five-time World Cup winners are many people's favourites to be the nation lifting the famous trophy on December 18 due to the quality throughout Tite's side. Brazil got their campaign off to the best possible start with a comfortable 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday evening.

Two goals from Tottenham striker Richarlison meant A Selecao avoided a potential banana skin against the Serbians. However, the game was clouded by an injury to Neymar after two unfriendly challenges from Nemanja Gudelj and Nikola Milenkovic.

READ MORE: Neymar set to miss Brazil's remaining World Cup group stage fixtures amid ankle injury

The PSG samba star came off in the 79th minute to avoid any further damage but it was announced on Friday that the 30-year-old had sustained ligament damage in his right ankle. Neymar is only expected to miss the remaining two group games against Switzerland and Cameroon.

His absence opens the door for a possible start for Arsenal pair Gabriel Jesus or Gabriel Martinelli. And ahead of the game, Casemiro discussed Neymar's importance to the side and highlighted how the national team have joked about feeling sorry for their opponents with the options available.

"We have to be sincere in that he's our great player, he's the star of the team, he's the one who can make the difference,” he said before the Switzerland clash.

"But even it was the same as your question, we have other players who are correspondent. There's Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Richarlison and Jesus. From the back, we joked, sometimes it even makes you feel sorry for the opponent because you have Raphinha, take Raphinha out then you have Antony. On the right side, Richarlison, then Jesus, Martinelli and Rodrygo."

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