Raphinha not 100% but will be on bench, says Brazil coach Ancelotti

Brazil's national team coach Carlo Ancelotti announced that Raphinha, despite recovering from a muscle injury, is not yet at full fitness but will be available on the bench for Sunday's World Cup Round of 16 match against Norway.

Ancelotti confirmed Raphinha is progressing well and could play some minutes if needed. The Barcelona winger has been sidelined since June 19 after re-aggravating a thigh injury during a group stage match. "We are very happy for this because Raphinha is a very, very important player for the team," Ancelotti stated.

Midfielder Bruno Guimarães echoed the sentiment, noting Raphinha's eagerness to play. "He is ready and has trained... We will see what the coach decides," Guimarães said. Raphinha, a regular starter for Ancelotti, returned to team training on Friday and participated in Saturday's session without apparent issues.

Sources within the Brazilian team suggest Raphinha will not be rushed unless absolutely necessary, potentially saving his full return for a quarter-final match against England or Mexico. The team aims to manage his return carefully to ensure he is fully fit for later stages of the tournament.