World Cup: Injured Neymar named in Brazil squad

Paris Saint-Germain star forward Neymar was included in the Brazil squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, despite being injured. Neymar had surgery on a fractured metatarsal back in March and at that time the Brazil team doctor said he would be out of action for three months. The last match that Neymar played this season was all the way back on February 25, when his Paris Saint-Germain defeated Marseille 3-0 in Ligue 1 and the Brazilian forward provided a pair of assists in that match. Neymar's Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Daniel Alves was left out of the squad because of a knee injury. The 35-year-old full-back damaged the cruciate ligament during the French Cup final and it would be impossible for him to recover before the 2018 World Cup. Daniel Alves has 106 caps for Brazil and has played at the last two World Cups, in 2010 and 2014. Premier League champions Manchester City have no less than four players included in the Brazil 23-man squad for the World Cup: goalkeeper Ederson, full-back Danilo, midfielder Fernandinho and striker Gabriel Jesus. The Brazil squad is filled with stars from Europe's toughest leagues, in midfield they will have Real Madrid's Casemiro, Barcelona's Paulinho and Philippe Coutinho, plus Douglas Costa from Juventus, while in attack head coach Tite might have to choose between Roberto Firmino from Liverpool, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Taison from Shakhtar Donetsk. At the 2014 World Cup Brazil were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals, so everybody expects them to make amends for that shameful result. They are in Group E at the 2018 World Cup, alongside Serbia, Switzerland and Costa Rica. Brazil are 4/1 at Bet365 to win the 2018 World Cup.