Bruno Guimaraes insists Brazil need to be given 'respect they deserve' going into World Cup

[p]The Selecao won the last of their five titles in 2002 and have gone out in the quarter-finals four times in five World Cups since then.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] come into this year's tournament in North America ranked sixth in the world and arguably lacking the kind of superstar names who have stood out in the past.[/p][p]"[b]Nobody else has five stars on their chest. We have great players who play for top teams, like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vini[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a]. We need to give our players the respect they deserve[/b]," [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle United[/a] midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bruno-guimaraes/xtyKanzU/"]Guimaraes[/a] told reporters at the Brazil team's base in New Jersey.[/p][p]Carlo Ancelotti's side, who finished fifth in the 10-team South American qualifying group, 10 points behind first-placed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a], begin their World Cup bid against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.[/p][p]They completed preparations for the tournament with back-to-back friendly wins, hammering [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] 6-2 in Rio de Janeiro and then defeating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] 2-1 in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday.[/p][image alt="Bruno Guimaraes stats this season" id="1af8e974-8eff-464c-ae44-f129a184acf5" credit-line="Jordan Pettitt / PA Images / Profimedia / Opta by StatsPerform" guid="b94486ae-cdc0-44ba-a3cf-a1371cf01ca7" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]"[b]We couldn't be feeling better. We won and played well in the two friendly matches. We have another few days to work on things but we feel ready[/b]," said Guimaraes, who scored his team's opener against Egypt.[/p][p]"[b]Once the World Cup begins, everyone will forget what has happened before. Hopefully we can start with a victory, and that will give us something to build on[/b]."[/p][p]Brazil will also play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/haiti/nk4v10Z1/"]Haiti[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/scotland/fZRU25WH/"]Scotland[/a] in Group C and are currently waiting to see if [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neymar/jNOPwl3h/"]Neymar[/a] will be able to play any part in their group games.[/p][p]The former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a] forward, now 34, is currently playing for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/santos/n3QdnjFB/"]Santos[/a] in his homeland and has not been capped by his country since 2023.[/p][p]Despite that, Ancelotti took a gamble by including Neymar in his squad, and he has since been hit by a calf problem.[/p][p]Brazil have already been forced to make a change to their squad, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/as-roma/zVqqL0ma/"]Roma[/a] full-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wesley/hr7UuUyK/"]Wesley[/a] being ruled out of the tournament at the weekend due to a thigh injury.[/p][p]He has been replaced by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ederson/fqEsbNyA/"]Ederson[/a], the 26-year-old midfielder with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atalanta/8C9JjMXu/"]Atalanta[/a] in Italy who is expected to join [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Manchester United[/a] after the World Cup.[/p][p]"[b]Playing at a World Cup is the apex of our careers as footballers. We hope Wesley recovers quickly[/b]," said Guimaraes.[/p]