World Cup hosts Russia will test their World Cup mettle in two tough friendlies against Brazil and France that just might lift team spirits after a rash of bad injuries. But Russia are a team of walking wounded who have already lost their starting forward and a pair of key defenders for the June 14 to July 15 World Cup finals. READ | Germany factor in FIFA World Cup revenge for Brazil friendlyAll three went down while playing in the bitter cold that last month gripped Europe and turned some Russian pitches into sandpits. READ | Neymar will be fit for 2018 FIFA World Cup, insists RonaldoThe 26-year-old has netted 12 times in 48 matches and is the trusted partner of forward Fyodor Smolov. Brazil and France were meant to be Russia’s big test before Cherchesov fine-tunes his lineup against Austria and Turkey around two weeks before the World Cup kicks off.

Source: Hindustan Times March 22, 2018 10:30 UTC