Raphinha injured, targets World Cup return date | OneFootball

Raphinha remains convinced his World Cup is not over after a right thigh injury in Brazil’s 3-0 win against Haiti in Philadelphia.

The winger went off in the 38th minute and was replaced by Rayan. The Brazilian federation said he will follow an intensive treatment protocol under the national team’s medical staff, gave no recovery timeline, and stressed the aim is to speed up his return.

Saturday tests in New Jersey, where Brazil are based, confirmed a tear in the back of his right thigh, the same area that sidelined him for five weeks in March with Brazil and cost him Barcelona’s run-in.

Raphinha has not been released from the squad and has begun physiotherapy. Working with Brazil’s medics, he has marked Sunday 5 July as a potential return, when Carlo Ancelotti’s side would play the last 16 if they progress and if there are no setbacks.

He is expected to miss at least two weeks, so he will sit out Brazil’s group finale against Scotland in Miami in the early hours of Thursday, and the round of 32 on Monday 29 June in Houston if they stay top.

If he does not make 5 July, and Brazil remain in the tournament, the quarter-finals on 11 July in Miami would give him another week, by then three weeks after this setback.

The setback is not as severe as feared, and he is working apart with Brazil’s recovery staff.

Source: Superdeporte