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A fractured vertebra sustained within the dying embers of their 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-final left the Selecao with out Neymar’s companies for the following semi, and rapidly made manner for what Luiz Felipe Scolari described was the worst loss in nationwide crew historical past.
Scolari, devoid of his greatest participant, one who had produced 5 purpose involvements in as many video games, fielded an eleven severely outclassed from the primary whistle; with Germany easing their method to the Maracana off the again of a 7-1 demolition.
It is a end result that can reside lengthy in World Cup folklore, however, fortunately, it is not one thing Tite’s squad will come near experiencing in Qatar.
An ankle ligament harm noticed Neymar limp off late in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Serbia in Lusail, the place two targets from Richarlison sealed his facet’s profitable begin to the 2022 match.
Neymar now faces a race to be match for the knockout phases and whereas he stays “the star of the crew”, teammate Casemiro believes the standard at Tite’s disposal ought to calm any considerations.
“He is the star of the crew, who makes the distinction,” Casemiro defined to Brazilian newspaper Globo.
“However we’ve got different related gamers: Raphinha, Vini [Vinicius Junior], Richarlison. We’ve a variety of choices.
“Neymar is likely one of the greatest on the earth, and sadly he won’t be within the subsequent recreation, however we’ve got high quality gamers to exchange him…”
The five-time champions have been tipped by many so as to add to their file tally in Qatar, and the unfold of stars squeezed into Tite’s 26-man squad is a major cause why.
In 2014, Scolari might solely name upon Bernard in Neymar’s absence, with an inexperienced Willian the one different like-for-like choice on his bench. These disastrous 90 minutes can be the previous’s final contribution within the canary yellow.
What Tite possesses, nevertheless, is a range headache of a distinct sort, the place Casemiro’s strategies are additional supported by the presence of Gabriel Martinelli, Antony, Rodrygo and Gabriel Jesus – to not point out the opportunity of Lucas Paqueta drifting up in favour of Fred at his six.
It is a humiliation of riches, in fact, and arguably Brazil’s most proficient World Cup squad since 2006, when the likes of Kaka, Adriano, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho danced previous defenders in Germany.
Tite isn’t any stranger to life with out Neymar, having led his nation to the Copa America title sans his most prized asset in 2019, and it is this identical “crew spirit” he hopes to faucet into forward of remaining group video games towards Switzerland and Cameroon.
“We’ve 26 gamers who should be match and in nice form,” Tite informed reporters at his pre-match press convention. “That is how we have been working. It reveals why crew spirit is necessary.”
“Neymar is a unprecedented expertise,” he added. “However we’re additionally counting on our different gamers as properly.
“What I take into consideration main skills is that they’re gamers who do all the things properly and perhaps in three alternatives they get them.
“Creativity just isn’t fixed. This expertise comes up solely two, thrice in a match and Neymar has that capacity.
“(However) there are different gamers. An help from Vinicius [Junior], or creativity when ending a play from Richarlison, a header from Pedro, an opportunity for Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha… they’ve this capacity.”
A win over Switzerland would all however safe Brazil’s place within the Spherical of 16, and whereas it stays to be seen whether or not Neymar will make his return, the Canarinho seem far faraway from their historic humiliation.