Former world champions Brazil and France prepare for the upcoming World Cup with a friendly in the US, highlighting stars like Mbappe and Vinicius.
Brazil and France, ranked third and fifth globally, will face off in a friendly match on Thursday at 20:00 GMT at Gillette Stadium near Boston, Massachusetts. This is their first meeting in 11 years, since Brazil's 3-1 victory in a friendly in France in March 2015.
Match Context and Preparations
Brazil finished fifth in South American World Cup qualifying with six losses in 18 games and has appointed Carlo Ancelotti as coach to boost their chances for a sixth title. The team is using this match to prepare for the World Cup in June-July, with their next friendly against Croatia on March 31 in Orlando, Florida.
Neymar, aged 34, is absent from Brazil's squad due to physical issues, as stated by Ancelotti, who noted he is not at 100 percent. Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid forward, is Brazil's main player in this game, having scored eight goals in 45 appearances for his country.
For France, Kylian Mbappe is the focal point after recovering from a knee injury and returning to play for Real Madrid. The 27-year-old captain aims to be decisive in this match and the upcoming World Cup.
The last competitive encounter between the teams was at the 2006 World Cup, where France won 1-0 in the quarterfinals. If both teams win their groups in the upcoming tournament, they would not meet until the final.
Other notable Brazil players include uncapped 19-year-old Rayan from Bournemouth, while key figures like Alisson Becker and Gabriel Magalhaes are missing from the squad.
