Team news, manager quotes and odds ahead of the international friendly between South Africa and Brazil in Johannesburg.
TEAM NEWS
Bloemfontein Celtic defender Thabo Nthethe is expected to replace keeper Itumeleng Khune as captain after the Kaiser Chiefs man was ruled out with an ankle injury. Moeneeb Josephs should start in goal.
Brazil have a strong 19-man squad but are expected to be careful with their Europe-based stars, who arrived later than the rest of the squad. Neymar will feature but is unlikely to play 90 minutes. After Diego Costa switched allegiances to Spain, Luiz Felipe Scolari wants to take both Fred and Jo as his target men, but neither have been in good form and fitness recently so this is a chance to shine.
MANAGER QUOTES
Gordon Igesund: "I’ll be analysing a bit more this evening, looking some more at the opposition, and then I’ll be able to announce my captain. Everyone will know by tomorrow. I’ll announce the team tomorrow, if I announce my team now then Brazil will know it too and I’m trying to keep it away from them. (Brazil FA director) Carlos Alberto Parreira already knows our team well and we don’t want to give them any extra help."
Luiz Felipe Scolari: "This is another opportunity to get the players together, the last call up before the World Cup," Scolari said. "It will be an important test against the African side who recently beat Spain and a good chance to talk to the players and the back room staff about planning for the competition.”
MATCH ODDS
South Africa 10/1, Brazil 2/9, Draw 11/2.
