Unable to participate in the 3rd due to an ankle injury
Brazil, Hisharlisson and Rafinha are in good shape
▲ Neymar.
AP Newsis
2022 Qatar World Cup winner ‘ranked 0’ Brazil was put in a situation where it had to play the group stage without the main striker Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain).
On the 28th (Korean time), ESPN, an American sports channel, quoted a source and said, “Neymar is expected to miss the second match once morest Switzerland on the 29th and the third match once morest Cameroon on the 3rd of next month.”
Neymar started on the 25th in the group stage match once morest Serbia in the first group G match held at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, but was replaced in the 34th minute of the second half following colliding with opposing defender Nikola Milenkovic. A close examination revealed ligament damage in his right ankle, which made his appearance in the group stage difficult.
Brazil is particularly sensitive to Neymar’s injury. There is pain from a humiliating 1-7 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals following Neymar was injured in the tournament held in his country eight years ago. Brazil calls the match “The Tragedy of Mineiro,” a reference to the “Tragedy of Maracanã,” which lost the championship to Uruguay in 1950.
Because of this sense of crisis, Brazilian coach Chichi stepped forward and apologized. Coach Chichi said at the official press conference once morest Switzerland on the 28th, “I didn’t see the situation where Neymar was injured. “I was not aware of the seriousness because there was no information,” he said. “It is my responsibility for not replacing Neymar sooner.” He also said, “Neymar tried to stay on the ground until he collapsed. He continued to play offense for the team,” he added.
However, no one expects Brazil to be eliminated from the group stage without Neymar. This is because Brazil’s bench is lined with ‘world class’ strikers besides Neymar.
Hisharlisson (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid) and Rafinha (FC Barcelona), who scored two goals in the first leg, were joined by Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Gabriele Marchinelli and Gabriel Jeju. S (Arsenal), Anthony (Manchester United), and Pedro (Flamengo) are all waiting to play. In other countries, these are the players who would have been the regular starters instead of the bench. This is why Brazilian samba football is still strong even without Neymar.
Reporter Jang Hyeong-woo