Ancelotti hopeful of Raphinha return as Brazil plot Haaland shutdown

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, July 4 : Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Raphinha is ready to play a part after returning from injury in Sunday's World Cup last-16 clash with Norway, but acknowledged his side would have to find a different solution to replace the injured Lucas Paqueta.

Raphinha returned to training on Friday after two weeks out with a hamstring injury sustained during Brazil's group-stage win over Haiti. The forward is not ready to start, Ancelotti said, but could feature from the bench against a Norway side led by Erling Haaland.

"Raphinha is progressing very well," Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday. "He is still not at 100 per cent, but he is available to be on the bench and to be able to play a few minutes or be useful at certain moments.

"He recovered very well and very quickly. We are very happy with this because Raphinha is a very, very important player for the team."

Brazil will be without Paqueta after the midfielder suffered a hamstring strain in their 2-1 win over Japan in the previous round, leaving Ancelotti to reshuffle his midfield.

"We don't have a player in the squad with Lucas Paqueta's quality, so we have to replace him with another player," Ancelotti said. "The characteristics are different. Danilo is different from Gabriel, who is different from Matheus Cunha and Ederson.

"I will choose the player based on our game plan, obviously taking into account the strength of the opponent, but also what is functional to the idea we want to implement tomorrow."

Raphinha's possible return, alongside Neymar's availability, gives Brazil added experience and invention in attack as they seek a place in the quarter-finals.

But Norway pose a formidable threat through Haaland, whose pace and power have made him one