Brazil midfielder Fabinho has put a hefty challenge by Casemiro on Endrick in training down to a level of “high intensity” that is “expected” during the five-time winners’ preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Footage emerged of former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro chopping down the 19-year-old Real Madrid forward as the Selecao build towards their tournament opener against Haiti on June 20 (01:30 BST).
“It’s normal, given the commitment and quality of the players,” said Fabinho, who plays for Saudi side Al-Ittihad and won every major trophy in England, the Champions League and the Club World Cup during his time at Liverpool between 2018 and 2023.
What on earth is Casemiro doing here! 🤯🇧🇷
— Sleeper Football (@SleeperFooty) June 4, 2026
The Brazilian was recorded putting in a horrible red-card scissor challenge on Endrick in training… 😬 pic.twitter.com/o07bSCMv75
“Since it’s the national team, everyone wants to show something more. Even a simple game becomes something intense; everyone wants to do well.
“Fouls happen in every training session. When it’s possible to avoid a stronger challenge, we do, but sometimes you can’t; you want to win the ball, you want to be strong in the contest.”
Egypt are seeking their first win at a World Cup, making it unsurprising that Hossam Hassan wants his country to “do better”.
“I trust my players because their level is very high, whether it’s Mohamed Salah, [Manchester City forward Omar] Marmoush or the players in the Egyptian league,” head coach Hassan told CAF, via Reuters. “They have great ambition.”
The Pharaohs finished five points clear of second-placed Burkina Faso as part of an unbeaten qualification campaign with the help of nine goals in nine matches by Salah.
They proceeded to reach the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-finals and are the record seven-time African champions, with the likeliest occasion for a history-making World Cup win coming in their second or third matches at the finals, taking on New Zealand and Iran after an opener against Belgium on June 15.
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Brazil v Egypt team news
All-time top Brazil scorer Neymar is staying in New Jersey to continue rehabilitation on an injured left calf.
Defender Eder Militao (thigh) and winger Willian Estavao (hamstring) are out of the finals and centre-back Gabriel is expected to be rested after representing Arsenal in the Champions League final last Saturday.
Nice centre-half Mohamed Abdelmoneim made his international comeback from a long-term knee injury in Egypt’s 1-0 win over Russia in Cairo on May 28, when Pyramids winger Mostafa Ziko’s header proved decisive.
Marmoush started, having scored three goals in 21 Premier League appearances last season, but Salah, who missed two games with a hamstring issue for Liverpool last month, was rested.
Brazil v Egypt predicted line-ups
Brazil starting XI: Alisson, Wesley, Marquinhos, Leo Pereira, Douglas Santos, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta, Igor Thiago, Vinicius Junior, Raphinha
Egypt starting XI: Mostafa Shobeir, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Karim Hafez, Mohanad Lasheen, Marwan Attia, Zizo, Emam Ashour, Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush
Where to watch Brazil v Egypt: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Saturday is at 23:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). Live coverage in the UK is on ITVX.
Fans can stream the action via ITV’s website and the ITVX app, which is available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.
Brazil v Egypt stats
- Brazil have won all six meetings between the nations, most recently winning a friendly 2-0 in Al-Rayyan in 2011 through goals by then-Valencia forward Jonas
- They have conceded in each of their last four matches (including friendlies) and five of the last six, conceding nine in total across those games
- Three of Brazil’s last six African opponents have beaten them (W2), although their 2-0 win over Senegal in London and 1-1 draw with Tunisia in Lille in November – both friendlies – mean they are unbeaten in two against such teams
- Botafogo midfielder Danilo and Brentford forward Igor Thiago have each scored once in both of Brazil’s last two matches
- Barcelona’s Raphinha was their five-goal top scorer in qualifying, although the 29-year-old has not scored for his country since a 2-1 home win over Colombia in March 2025
- This will be the eighth friendly of Carlo Ancelotti’s 12-match reign, with the Italian’s four World Cup qualifiers between June and September 2025 producing draws in Ecuador and Bolivia either side of home wins over Paraguay and Chile
- Egypt would have held Brazil in the Confederations Cup in Bloemfontein in 2009 but for a 90th-minute penalty by Kaka as the 2007 Ballon d’Or winner’s side won 4-3
- They have kept clean sheets in their last four matches, going more than six hours and 42 minutes without conceding
- In three appearances at the World Cup, Egypt have never won a game. They lost all three of their matches at the 2018 edition and earned two points in 1990
- Mohamed Salah needs two goals to match head coach Hossam Hassan’s all-time record of 69 goals for Egypt
Brazil v Egypt prediction
Brazil 2-2 Egypt
Brazil have greater quality but Egypt’s only loss over 90 minutes in their last 11 matches was a 1-0 defeat to Senegal in the AFCON semi-finals. With ample attacking ability in both squads, they can earn a positive result in the fixture for the first time via a high-scoring draw.
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