Raphinha was expected to be given some rest by Carlo Ancelotti for Brazil’s match against Bolivia. However, he ended up playing for half an hour at high altitude on Tuesday.
The match concluded with a 1-0 defeat for the Selecao, who have already secured their place in the World Cup. Raphinha appeared visibly frustrated after the game.
“When a team forces you to play at 4,000 meters to win, it puts other teams at a disadvantage. Then, there was a close game where the referee awarded a penalty, complicating things further,” he told reporters.
“We struggled, especially at the beginning of the competition. We won the first two games but faced difficulties in the middle. Our main goal was World Cup qualification, which we accomplished. Now, we must keep working to reach our peak at the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Brazil’s decision to use Raphinha in the match is unlikely to sit well with FC Barcelona fans. Particularly as Real Madrid stars Vinícius Jr, Rodrygo, and Éder Militao were not even called up for the game.
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