PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) - Philippe Coutinho will be on the bench when Brazil plays Ecuador on Thursday in a World Cup qualifying match.
The Liverpool forward, linked to a move to Barcelona, has yet to play a minute in the Premier League this season. He is reported to have a back injury, although he has practiced this week with Brazil’s national team.
Brazil coach Tite says Chelsea forward Willian will start in place of Coutinho. Tite says of Willian: “He has been playing, he is doing great so, in fairness, he will start the match and Coutinho is benched.”
Tite says he told Coutinho he needed to be in a “place where he feels happy; if it’s at Liverpool - if it’s a move to Barcelona.”
Brazil has already qualified for the World Cup next year in Russia.
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