Brazil has been handed a major blow with Douglas Costa and Danilo set to miss last World Cup’s group game against Serbia due to injury.
The two will not travel with the rest of the squad for Wednesday’s closing Group E clash in Moscow. Danilo started Brazil’s 1-1 opening draw against Switzerland but missed their 2-0 win over Costa Rica due to a hip problem, with Fagner deputizing.
Costa was influential off the bench as late goals from Philippe Coutinho and Neymar downed Costa Rica on Friday. But the Juventus winger will not be available for the Serbia match as he has a hamstring injury, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed.
“At the end of yesterday’s game, Douglas Costa complained of pain in his right hamstring. Just remember he arrived injured but in the left leg. That is different from this complaint. He was diagnosed with a minor muscle injury so he will not travel with us. He will stay in Sochi, where we have a structure suitable for him to recover as soon as possible,” Lasmar told reporters.
“We’ll have a physiotherapist here. He will continue the recovery process here, along with Danilo, who will not travel and will have physiotherapy aimed at recovery. We are optimistic about his participation in the competition, depending on our performance at the World Cup. We are sparing no effort so can he still help us.”
“The case that is most worrying is Douglas Costa’s, but Danilo’s is not much different, except that his is a less important, secondary muscle, so there’s a little better expectation with respect to him,” he added.