Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is anticipated to play for Brazil in their second international friendly match, despite experiencing an injury scare earlier in the week. His club, Real Madrid, will undoubtedly be keen to see him fully fit and ready for the crucial final stages of the season in April and May.
Vinicius started in the Seleção’s 2-1 defeat to France on Thursday, but was absent from training the following day due0 to muscle discomfort. Initially described as a major doubt for next week’s encounter against Croatia, it now appears he will be fit for this rematch of the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. Brazil is scheduled to face Croatia in Orlando, Florida, at 02:00 AM CEST on Wednesday.
Vinicius Cleared to Play Against Croatia
The 24-year-old forward is now expected to participate in the game against Croatia. Reports indicate that Vinicius returned to training on Sunday, confirming his injury scare was merely mild discomfort. At this point, it would be surprising if he did not play alongside Luka Modric and his teammates.
Vinicius Approaching Peak Performance
After a period of slightly subdued form, Vinicius has regained his stride under manager Alvaro Arbeloa. Arbeloa recently commented after the Madrid derby that Vinicius is ‘not far off his best form of his career.’ Vinicius’s two goals secured a 3-2 victory for Los Blancos in that match, helping them stay four points behind Barcelona in the title race. His impressive form and strong relationship with Arbeloa seem to be paving the way for advanced contract extension talks.
Since Arbeloa took charge, Vinicius has arguably been one of Real Madrid’s most impactful players, alongside Thibaut Courtois. It appears that any significant success Real Madrid achieves this season will heavily rely on Vinicius maintaining this high level of performance. An injury at this critical juncture would be a severe setback to their ambitions both in Europe and domestically.
