Brazil forward Hulk has told the media that the decision not to play him against Mexico last night was a footballing one and not the result of a muscle injury he had picked up in the previous victory over Croatia.
The Zenit St. Petersburg striker did not play a part in the goalless draw in Fortaleza and said to reporters after the game: “I’m not hurt.”
“It was the opinion of the coach. Did I want to play? Ask any player and to play and he always wants to play, but I have to respect the position of the coach.”
The claim by Hulk appears to contradict the pre-match belief that Luiz Felipe Scolari would drop him solely down to fitness issues, after a disappointing perfromance in the World Cup opener with the Croats last week.
It remains to be seen whether or not Hulk will be involved from the start in the crucial deciding fixture of Group A against Cameroon on Monday in Brasilia.
