Neymar set for World Cup showdown with Messi

Neymar. Pic/AFP

Neymar will face his new clubmate Lionel Messi in a South American grudge match after being named to the Brazil team on Friday for three World Cup qualifiers.

Coach Tite also called up six members of the squad that retained the Olympic title by beating Spain in extra-time on August 7. Dani Alves, who captained the Olympic squad, is joined by fellow gold medallists Matheus Cunha, who scored in the final, Richarlison, the tournament top scorer in Japan, Bruno Guimaraes, Guilherme Arana and Claudinho.

Brazil lead the 10-team South American World Cup qualifying group after six matches and face a busy week as the tournament tries to catch up after two rounds were postponed in March in the face of a Coronavirus spike and international quarantine rules. Brazil start with a trip to Santiago to play Chile on September 2, then take on Argentina in a re-arranged match in Sao Paulo three days later before travelling more than 2,200kms north to Pernambuco to entertain Peru on September 9.

Also Read: Back together: Neymar overjoyed as Lionel Messi joins Paris St Germain

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