Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has warned that Brazil must show full respect to Morocco when they kick off their World Cup campaign in New York on Saturday night. The 28-year-old midfielder is expected to start for Carlo Ancelotti's side in Group C, with the match set for an 11pm kick-off UK time.
Brazil Favourites but Cautious
Brazil are strong favourites to progress from a group that also includes Scotland and Haiti, and many pundits have marked them as tournament favourites. However, Guimaraes stressed that Morocco cannot be taken lightly. "Morocco are a very good team, honestly. We have to give them all the respect they deserve," he said. "We hope to play our best football and win the match."
Demanding Respect for Brazil
The Newcastle star also called for more respect for Brazil's own credentials. "No one else has five stars on their shirt like Brazil. We have great players playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world. Our players deserve respect," Guimaraes added. Brazil finished fifth in the South American World Cup qualifying table, behind Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, and Uruguay, but remain confident.
Recent Form and Confidence
Brazil come into the tournament on the back of two friendly wins, beating Panama 6-2 and recording a 2-1 victory over Egypt, in which Guimaraes opened the scoring. Those results have lifted spirits in the camp. "We are more confident after those two matches. When the World Cup starts, everyone forgets what happened before," he said.
Message to Injured Teammate
Guimaraes also sent a message to injured teammate Wesley, who was forced to pull out of the squad. "Playing at a World Cup is the peak of our careers. We hope Wesley recovers quickly. Now we have an extra reason to give everything on the pitch," he concluded.
