Thiago Silva itching for WC chance

Rio de Janeiro, Feb 11: Former Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has not given up hope of reclaiming a starting berth for the Selecao during this year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The 33-year-old centre-back has been a peripheral figure for Brazil since his handball gifted a pelty to Paraguay in the 2015 Copa America quarterfils, which the team lost on spot kicks.

The current incumbents in the middle of Brazil’s defence are Silva’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate Marquinhos and Inter Milan’s Miranda.

“They are both playing very well and are making very few mistakes,” Silva told the Folha de S.Paulo daily.

“But I don’t think anybody has a guaranteed starting position in Brazil’s tiol team. I know what my potential is and the other players know theirs. I just have to work hard every day and then the opportunities will come.”

Brazil is likely to enter the June 14-15 tourment as the favorites after losing just one of their 18 South American zone qualifiers. But they will need to overcome the harrowing memory of the World Cup on home soil four years ago, when they suffered a humiliating 7-1 semifil loss to Germany. IANS