Brazil must be 'prepared to suffer', says Gabriel Jesus

Teenage striker Gabriel Jesus said Brazil must be "prepared to suffer" as they bid for their fourth-in-a-row World Cup football qualifying victory against Venezuela on Tuesday.

Brazil are second in the 10-team South American zone standings midway through the two-year qualifying tournament while Venezuela are languishing in the last place, reports Efe on Saturday.

"We are ready. But we have to be prepared to suffer. That's normal now. Football has changed," Jesus said.

"It's going to be a tough game, just like all of the others have been. But we know that being the country of football, we have to keep winning," he added.

Jesus, who will join Manchester City from Palmeiras in January, has scored three goals in as many matches since his international debut against Ecuador last month.

He will be given extra responsibility against Venezuela in the absence of suspended Barcelona forward Neymar, who is expected to be replaced by Chelsea's Willian in the Selecao's starting lineup.

--IANS

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