Scotland’s opponents dealt major blow ahead of World Cup
Scotland’s final Group C opponents at this summer’s World Cup, Brazil, have been dealt a hammer blow to their preparations ahead of the tournament after it was revealed that one of their key players has suffered a serious injury.
The five-time World Cup winners head into the competition as one of the favourites to win the trophy, but had been left sweating on the fitness of winger Estevao over the weekend after was taken off just 16 minutes into Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the English Premier League last weekend.
With just 50 days to go until Carlo Ancelotti’s side get their tournament underway with a clash against AFCON finalists Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, the teenage attacker was said to be left in tears in the Chelsea dressing room after suffering the season-ending injury, according to recently sacked Blues head coach Liam Rosenior.
Estevao of Chelsea reacts with an injury during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.placeholder image
Estevao of Chelsea reacts with an injury during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. | Getty Images
“He was crying at half-time,” said the 41-year-old. “It was really devastating for him. It looks like it's his hamstring, and that has happened in a moment when he's running through on their goal for a one-vs-one chance - he pulls his hamstring in that moment. I hope Este comes back sooner rather than the later."
Joining Chelsea in the summer for a fee that could rise to £51million from Palmeiras in the summer, Estevao has been a standout performer for both club and country this season, bagging eight goals in his debut campaign in London, with three of them coming in Champions League games. He also has five goals in his first 11 caps for Brazil.
It had been hoped that initial fears Estevao could miss the tournament were premature, with a now-deleted social media post by Fabrizio Romano citing he had targeted a return to action by the end of the month following a scan. However, according to several reports, it now looks like the 18-year-old is “highly likely” to miss out of a place in Ancelotti’s squad for the tournament after a scan showed he had suffered a grade four hamstring injury.
His loss could improve Brazilian icon Neymar Jr’s chances of returning to the fold ahead of the World Cup, though. Several reports had said that Ancelotti had already made his decision on which forwards he would be taken to the tournament in North America, with the Italian said to have opted against taking the Santos star. However, with Estevao now likely to miss out, there is a potential for shock reprieve for the 34-year-old.
Brazil are scheduled to play Haiti on June 13 at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, before facing Scotland at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on June 24, in their final Group C fixture.