Brazil boss Tite has confirmed that Marcelo will not start Monday’s last-16 clash with Mexico at the 2018 World Cup.
Marcelo was forced off in the early stages of Brazil’s 2-0 winover Serbia on Wednesday night with a back problem, but the Selecao’s team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar suggested on Thursday that the Real Madrid defender would be fit for the round of 16 match with Mexico.
Tite, however, has revealed that the left-back position will be occupied by Filipe Luis, who replaced Marcelo against Serbia last time out.
“Yes, we have confirmed the team. The team that finished the last match. So Filipe Luis [not Marcelo],” Tite told reporters.
Brazil doctor Lasmar suggested that a hotel mattress could have caused the back spasms that forced Marcelo to leave the field against Serbia.