RUSSIA 2018: City players’ Group stage schedule
Squad role: Injury to Paris St Germain’s Dani Alves opened the door for Danilo with Brazil in need of further right-back cover.
The City defender’s ability to play anywhere across the back or even in midfield if needed, will have appealed to Head Coach Tite when he selected his squad for Russia.
Brazil will be full of confidence going into the tournament and are, rightly, considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
Danilo’s return to the international set up is a triumph for the former Real Madrid man.
With only three caps in the last three years, he would have been hopeful of travelling to Russia, but not confident - now he will have a chance to shine on the world’s biggest stage.
Will he feature regularly? Tellingly, Danilo started the 2-0 win against Croatia and the 3-0 win over Austria in Brazil’s final warm-up games, so it is looking good for him to start as the first-choice right-back.
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Brazil are in Group E along with Costa Rica, Serbia and Switzerland.
International highlights: Danilo’s debut against Argentina in 2011 will undoubtedly remain one of his most memorable moments at international level, but the sporadic nature of his appearances over the past seven years means he has found it hard to cement a place in the national team.
Being behind the legendary 106-capped Alves hasn’t helped, but the PSG star is now 35 and this is a fantastic opportunity for Danilo to establish himself as the heir apparent to the right-back berth.
