Champion candidate Brazil’s World Cup continues on Monday against Switzerland, but the biggest star of the squad is definitely on the sidelines. Star striker Neymar injured in Brazil’s World Cup opener against Serbia.
According to the Brazilian team doctor, Neymar has damage to the ligament in his right ankle. Neymar received harsh treatment in the Serbia game. He was violated no less than nine times. Serbia only broke the rest of the Brazil team three times in total.
Neymar was hit twice particularly hard in the second period of the match. At the beginning Nemanja Gudel deserving of Neymar’s yellow card.
The last nail was seen in the 66th minute. Nikola Milenkovic went sliding to tackle and block Neymar and Vinicius junior scoring.
The situation is bad luck. The video above shows how Milenkovic first hits the ball cleanly. Neymar then steps on the Serbian’s foot. Neymar’s ankle bends and gets under Milenkovic’s knee.
In the opening round of the preliminary group stage of the World Cup in Qatar, Neymar was the most violated player. In itself, the situation is familiar to the 30-year-old PSG player. Already four years ago, in the first group game against Switzerland, Neymar was fouled ten times.
No one had been fouled as many times in one World Cup match in the 2000s. England in the 1998 World Cup tournament Alan Shearer narrowly beat him when Tunisia broke him no less than 11 times.
Even in club games, Neymar has received harsh treatment. Spanish magazine According to Marca (you switch to another service) the Brazilian striker was the most fouled player in Europe’s top five leagues this season before the World Cup.
Neymar has been through hard times before. He missed Copa America 2019 due to ankle ligament injuries and was out of action for several weeks in 2021 due to the same injury.
In 2014, the home World Cup was interrupted by a back injury in the quarter-finals, after which Brazil experienced a humiliating 1-7 defeat in the semi-finals against Germany.
The preparation for the 2018 World Cup was hindered by a fracture in the metatarsal.
The head coach regretted his mistake, but wants a change in the football world
Head coach of Brazil Tite sent a strong message to the opposing teams on Sunday.
– If we want a football party, we have to pay attention to fouls, because they focus on certain players. This is a fact. It has to end, Tite defended his player.
However, Tite admitted that he could have performed better himself in the Serbia game.
– I made a mistake. I didn’t realize he was hurt. I want to publicly admit this, Tite said.
According to Tite, he did not see Neymar’s injury and was not informed about it. According to Tite, Neymar had been on the field ten minutes too long.
– It wasn’t intentional, it was an accident, Tite admitted.
On Saturday, Neymar himself published a picture in the story section of his Instagram account, where the ankle still looked very swollen. News agency Reuters, BBC and Brazilian newspaper O Globo already reported on Friday that Neymar would also be sidelined for the final game of the first group against Cameroon.
Tite hopes that Neymar and also the full-back who injured his ankle Danilo would still play in the World Cup. However, the coach did not dare to say anything for sure.
– I believe that Neymar and Danilo will still play in these games. I really believe. But medically speaking, I am not in a position to say anything (for sure), Tite formulated.
A cold fact from teammates about Neymar’s importance and a thorn for the Brazilian people
Neymar has aroused a lot of emotions in his playing career, as he has also often been accused of falling too easily and fishing for free kicks.
Even in his home country, the football star has recently annoyed many people because of events outside the field.
Neymar supported a far-right candidate in the Brazilian presidential election Jair Bolsonaro. The incumbent president, who lost the election, has been described as “Brazil’s Donald Trump.” Bolsonaro has become known for, among other things, his racist and homophobic statements, the noticeable loosening of gun laws and the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.
However, some of the players have positioned themselves behind Neymar. For example Raphinha uploaded a tight caption on his Instagram account on Friday.
– Argentine fans treat Messi like God. Portugal fans are in for a treat Cristiano Ronaldo like a king. Brazil hope Neymar breaks his leg, Raphinha wrote.
– The biggest mistake in Neymar’s career has been to be born Brazilian. This country does not deserve his gifts and his football playing.
Another teammate Casemiro on the other hand, emphasized Neymar’s great importance on the field before the Switzerland match.
– We have quality players, but when you compare them to Neymar, it is difficult to find a player of his level, Casemiro said.
However, Brazil’s attacking equipment is still ferocious. Vinicius and Richarlison, who shone against Serbia, can be found there. On the bench you can also find, among other things, the top players of Arsenal, who lead the Premier League Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.
– We have good scope in the ring, but we have to be realistic and accept that Neymar is our best player, Casemiro stated.
Brazil has won the most football world championships, a total of five. However, the last one was already 20 years ago. Now the team went to the World Cup as one of the biggest championship candidates. So what are Brazil’s chances without Neymar?
Sports expert Jonne Kunnas doesn’t see Neymar’s absence as dramatic for title hopes.
– Of course, Neymar is an important player, but in terms of the structure of Brazil’s game, there are enough good replacements for him. Championship hopes will not fall on Neymai, Kunnas estimates.
Kunnas sees that Danilo’s absence has a greater impact on Brazil’s playing.
– His role is more significant. Danilo is the player who sets the rhythm of Brazil’s play. Neymar is more replaceable because there are more options for him, Kunnas states.