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Thiago Starts: Ancelotti's Surprise for Brazil vs Morocco
13 Jun
Summary
- Igor Thiago chosen to start Brazil's World Cup opener.
- Thiago is the first Brazilian to score 20+ Premier League goals.
- Neymar is sidelined due to a calf injury recovery.
In a notable strategic shift, Brazil's manager Carlo Ancelotti has named striker Igor Thiago as a starter for their crucial World Cup Group C opening match against Morocco. This decision marks Thiago's World Cup debut, appearing alongside dynamic forwards Vinicius Jr and Raphinha.
Thiago's selection comes on the heels of a remarkable season where he became the first Brazilian player to achieve over 20 goals in a single Premier League campaign. This impressive scoring record clearly influenced the manager's choice.
The Brazilian defense will feature Roger Ibanez and Douglas Santos as fullbacks, with Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes forming the central defensive partnership. Notably, star player Neymar is absent from the squad as he focuses on recovering from a calf injury.
Morocco's coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, has also made a change, bringing midfielder Bilal El Khannouss into the starting lineup to fill the void left by the injured Abde Ezzalzouli. Both Brazil and Morocco are competing in Group C, alongside Scotland and Haiti, setting the stage for an intense group stage.
