Flamengo Arrives at Club World Cup With Full Squad but Cautious on De la Cruz and Plata

Flamengo has landed in the United States with nearly a clean bill of health as they prepare for their Club World Cup campaign. Since the return of left-back Matías Viña, the squad has been free of injury setbacks. Still, head coach Filipe Luís is keeping a close eye on two key players: Nicolás De la Cruz and Gonzalo Plata.

Both players traveled with the squad and will be monitored daily ahead of Monday's opening match against Espérance de Tunis in Philadelphia. De la Cruz is recovering from a left knee sprain sustained on May 18 against Botafogo. Plata, meanwhile, has been dealing with a bone edema in his right knee — an issue that caused tension with Ecuador’s national team — but he’s reportedly pain-free and training normally, according to UOL.

Adding to the optimism is Viña’s return to action after nearly ten months sidelined due to a serious knee injury. The 27-year-old featured briefly in the June 1 match against Fortaleza and is now competing for a starting role with Alex Sandro and Ayrton Lucas.

Another major boost for the team is the inclusion of Jorginho. The former Arsenal midfielder, who joined Flamengo on June 6, is eligible to make his debut in the tournament opener, and will be eyeing an electrifying clash with Chelsea.

The squad in the U.S. includes 29 of the 31 players named by Filipe Luís. Center-back João Victor and midfielder Matheus Gonçalves will join the group later in Atlantic City, after finishing duty with Brazil’s U-20 national team.