Midfielder Marlon Gomes and defender Alisson faced a grueling multi-leg journey from Ukraine to reach the Brazilian national team’s training camp in Singapore this week.
Due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the resulting closure of airspace, the pair traveled by van for approximately seven hours to cross the border into Poland, according to uol.com.br.
From Poland, the players flew to Istanbul before continuing on a long-haul flight to Singapore.
Marlon Gomes said that this logistical challenge is a standard reality for Shakhtar Donetsk and other Ukrainian clubs competing in European tournaments, as reported by Gazeta Esportiva.
“It is a complicated situation, you cannot have air traffic, so you have to take a van or bus,” Marlon Gomes told uol.com.br. He added that the travel constraints often hinder the team’s recovery process between matches.
The conflict has forced Shakhtar Donetsk through several relocations since the start of the war. Originally based in Donetsk, the club moved to Kyiv before settling in Lviv in 2022 to improve security and logistics, according to uol.com.br.
“At the beginning, it was very difficult for me to experience all this, but I believe it served as learning for some moment of my life,” he said to uol.com.br. He further said that he rarely hears air raid sirens today, describing the current situation as calmer than when he first arrived.
The selection process under coach Carlo Ancelotti has focused on integrating younger talent into the national team. Midfielder Andrey Santos, who joined the squad alongside Marlon Gomes and Rayan, expressed confidence in this period of renewal. “I feel very comfortable playing as a defensive midfielder, but I can play further forward,” Andrey Santos told Estadão.
The Brazilian team is currently preparing at the National Stadium in Singapore for two upcoming friendlies. The first match against Japan is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, at 7:15 a.m. (Brasília time), with a second match against Singapore set for Tuesday, November 17, at 7 a.m., according to Estadão.
The primary impact is the absence of commercial air travel within Ukraine. Clubs must use ground transportation to reach neighboring countries like Poland before they can fly to international destinations, which extends travel times and affects player recovery, as reported by Terra. Quais são os jogadores revelados pelo Vasco da Gama que estão na atual convocação da Seleção Brasileira?
The current Brazil squad features three players developed at Vasco da Gama: Marlon Gomes, Andrey Santos, and Rayan. Andrey Santos said that their shared history at the club facilitates their adaptation to the national team environment.
The match against Singapore will take place on Tuesday, November 17, at 7 a.m. (Brasília time) at the National Stadium.
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