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Marcelo injury: Did mattress really hurt Brazil star? Martin O’Neill explains all
MARCELO missed Brazil’s World Cup last-16 match against Mexico today due to an injury said to be caused by his MATTRESS.
Marcelo went off injured during Brazil’s 2-0 Group E win over Serbia last Wednesday.
The team doctor has claimed a soft mattress caused back spasms in the left-back.
And he was not fit enough to take to the pitch against Mexico, with Filipe Luis deputising.
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, who is working as a pundit for ITV, says it is possible the quality of mattress is overlooked due to moving around so often in tournament football.
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I have to think if he’s saying that he’s got a bad back because of a soft bed, I’m going to believe him
And he believes that is the reason for the Real Madrid star's injury, even if others don't.
“I think in this day and age you would expect things like that to have been covered,” O'Neill said.
“Usually what happens is that when the team book into their normal hotel, the place that they would stay, I think everything is checked.
“There is a possibility of it being overlooked because Brazil had to make the journey I think from Rostov down to Moscow for that game.
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“You never know with Marcelo, he’s such a character, he’s brilliant.
“The cynic might turn round and say ‘he wasn’t tracking back and maybe he hurt his back on that occasion’.
“But overall he’s a terrific footballer and I have to think if he’s saying that he’s got a bad back because of a soft bed, I’m going to believe him.”
Brazil will play either Belgium or Japan in the quarter-final after they overcame Mexico 2-0.
Goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino confirmed their spot in the last eight for a seventh consecutive World Cup.