A classic of emotions looms at the Maracanã. La Scaloneta will come into the duel with some warning signs on after the loss against Uruguay at the Bombonera, but Brazil will face the game on fire, with a coach questioned by fans and journalists, and with the confirmed absence of Vinicius, who will have to rest until 2024 and then joins the absences of Neymar, Richarlison, Ederson and Casemiro.
Real Madrid wasted no time: once they found out about Vinicius' injury against Colombia, they sent him back to Spain for medical tests. And this Saturday morning the diagnosis was known: a rupture in the biceps femoris with involvement of the distal tendon in his left leg. Thus, the skilful striker will not only miss the derby against Argentina in Rio de Janeiro, but also said goodbye to 2023: he would only return in mid-January.
Without Vinicius, coach Fernando Diniz, a Libertadores champion with Fluminense, loses his most decisive player. And the criticism that the coach receives in the most well-known national media is harsh.
In editorials they wonder if this Brazil is fighting to be the worst of the century (Lance) and assure that it is a "fragile and without standard" cast (Folha). Some data on which the chronicles are based: they lost 4 of the 8 games they played in the year and the last time they ended a year falling in half of the games was in 1948. More: since 2014 they haven't lost in two games in a row (Uruguay and Colombia).
"If you ask me about Argentina, I'm going to say the same thing I said before the Libertadores final: we don't have any guarantee of winning or losing," Diniz warned. He added: "The team is evolving little by little and the trend of that evolution is to play better and better. We have to correct defensive aspects and then the results will come".
Now, what Diniz must define is Vinicius' replacement. Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is still suffering from muscle discomfort and remains questionable. In Colombia, meanwhile, João Pedro, from Brighton in England, came on for Vini and did not perform. So, the biggest possibility is the inclusion of a midfielder: Douglas Luiz (from Aston Villa, teammate of Dibu Martinez) or Joelinton (Newcastle).
What if Diniz kicks the board and takes a chance on Endrick, the 17-year-old jewel of Palmeiras?
Thus, the probable line-up would be: Alisson; Emerson, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, Renan Lodi; Bruno Guimarães, André, Douglas Luiz; Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli and Rodrygo.