General

Brazil holds training session ahead of World Cup opener

The country is to face Switzerland on Sunday

Published on 15/06/2018 - 17:20 By Luiza Damé - Brasília

The Brazilian squad was complete for its last training session on Friday (Jun. 15), in Sochi, before setting off for Rostov-on-Don, where their debut in the World Cup is slated to take place.

Midfielder Fred, who had been undergoing treatment since last week, was discharged by doctors and joined his colleagues for practice. Coach Tite led the so-called invisible training, where the athletes simulate the moves to be used in the matches.

The training session today focused on the Swiss team, Brazil’s adversary Sunday (17). “We had a session we call invisible. We go over both offensive and defensive strategies,” said coaching assistant Cléber Xavier. All squad members took part in the session, bearing in mind Switzerland’s playing style. “We covered defensive with the ball still, after Switzerland’s patterns for these balls, and also air balls for corner kicks and side faults and long-range faults up front.”

The seleção is heading for Rostov tonight. On the day preceding the game, Tite is to hold their last training sessions before facing the Swiss at Rostov Arena. “We’ll make the last arrangements tomorrow. We’ve boosted intensity a little further to have the players go for it. We go over our strategy for offensive, and prepare for the match,” Xavier said.