Brazil striker Thiago to start World Cup match against Morocco

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti made a surprise decision to select striker Igor Thiago over Matheus Cunha to start in their World Cup Group C opener against Morocco on Saturday.

Thiago will make his debut in a World Cup alongside Vinicius Jr and Raphinha.

Last season the Brentford striker was the first Brazilian to score more than 20 goals in a single Premier League campaign.

Roger Ibanez and Douglas Santos will start as full backs with Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes in central defence.

Neymar misses the game as he recovers from a calf injury.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi selects midfielder Bilal El Khannouss to start in place of injured Abde Ezzalzouli.

Brazil and Morocco are in Group C with Scotland and Haiti.

Lineups:

Brazil: Alisson; Roger Ibanez, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta; Raphinha, Vinicius Jr, Igor Thiago.

Morocco: Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari, Bilal El Khannouss, Neil El Aynaoui, Brahim Diaz.