Venezuela vs Brazil - Brazil without suspended Neymar for Venezuela clash

Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2016 by PA

Brazil will have to cope without star man Neymar for the World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.

Barcelona forward Neymar is suspended after he was booked during the 5-0 win over Bolivia last week.

Brazil are currently second in the 10-team South American qualifying group, one point behind table-toppers Uruguay.

And coach Tite says they have an opportunity to prove they do not rely solely on Neymar.

"The team must be strong without Neymar," he told reporters. "It is inhumane to put everything on Neymar."

Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho is expected to keep his place in the team, having recently replaced Chelsea winger Willian in the starting line-up.

Coutinho admits Tite has provided Brazil with a lift since replacing Dunga at the helm and guiding them to three consecutive qualifying victories.

"The confidence has returned," Coutinho said on goal.com.

"We are training a lot on positioning and tactics and in games everything has flowed just like it has in practice. This has been very important for us.

"Tite is a coach who keeps all the players focused, everyone feels important.

"Even when you don't play, he's always talking to you and when you get the opportunity you are ready to do what he asks."

Venezuela fell to a 3-0 defeat in Uruguay on Thursday, but could have been two goals up before a mistake let in Luis Suarez to set up Nicolas Lodeiro for the opener.

"You can't give a centimetre to a rival who has such a clear scheme of play," admitted coach Rafael Dudamel after the game.

Venezuela are bottom of the qualifying group with just two points from their nine matches.