Can Brazil redeem without Neymar? Who will play ‘A Neymar’ for Brazil against very strong German team tonight in the first semifinal? Does Brazil have enough quality in the reserve to neutralize the advantage Neymar’s injury has given to Germany?The entire soccer world will know all these in about 19 hours’ time from when this write up is prepared.
Before the FIFA World 2014 kicked off in Brazil there was a favorite talk “Can Messi Play a Maradona?” Not that Lionel Messi in his own right a great footballer. But Argentinean living legend Diego Maradona single handedly won two world cup for his country which Lionel Messi in two of his previous world cup failed to emulate.
Yes Messi Magic in this world cup is leading Argentina to the right direction so far. But concurrent to Messi another budding football master Neymar Da Silva Santos Júnior also started his first world cup promising to carry the dreams of host and all-time favorites Brazil on its HEXA mission.
In his very first world cup he showed lots of promise leading the Brazil’s magic through to quarter finals scoring most of the goals for his country and contributing massively in Brazil’s onward march. But his dream journey was put on hold through the cruel knees on a Colombian defender at the dying minutes of the quarter final breaking some bones in his vertebra.
Neymar was subsequently ruled of World Cup 2014. Now favorite Brazil will have to encounter a serious challenge of very strong German team early tonight Bangladesh standard time (BST) without Neymar.
When Philip Luis Scholari, the tried and tested Brazilian boss finally announced his 23 member squad some experts having deep insight into Brazilian football raised eye brows. Brazil appeared a little thin in the context of goal getters, a little less in experience though he included most of the team which won the Confederation Cup giving a good account of them. Why and how quality players like Robson de Souza (Robinho) and Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite (Kaka) could miss the list?
Pele, the FIFA Player of the Century, said Brazil national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had made a mistake by overlooking experienced players in choosing his squad. Veterans Kaka and Robinho, stars of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, held hopes of playing in the tournament but were not called up, along with former AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho, a member of Brazil's triumphant 2002 team. Pele believed Kaka and Robinho would have added much-needed experience to the hosts as they seek a sixth World Cup win.
Scolari possibly had his reasons which he knows have to prove as the youngster who always carrying forward the Brazil Mission Hexa is out of action. All other players in Brazil attack have so far failed to address. Robinho and Pato many thinks could fill in the gap much better than Oscar, Fred or Hulk many observes.
But those are mere academic now and will not even referred to if the absence of Neymar rekindles fire in his comrades. Oscar, Fred or Hulk possibly being over shadowed by budding Neymar started Twinkling like a little star.
Over the years world soccer has witnessed Brazil with most brilliant team failed to win the world cup while an average team were successful. Players like Zico, Socrates, Oscar, Falcao and Junior could not win the cup for Brazil. This team may not be blessed with high quality skilled footballers of the past but with whatever they have they could manage to ride into the semifinals.
Off course the player who played a major role so far in the teams’ success Neymar will not be playing. Brazil will also miss the service of its captain Thiago Silva being ruled out after getting his second yellow card of the tournament in the match against Colombia. They are up against a very strong European team Germany which also won the Cup three times.
Player who apart from Neymar was thought of playing a major role in the Brazil attack Oscar appears far below his best. He did nothing much of note other than scoring the third goal for his team in the first match against Croatia when matter was almost settled. Fred is another player who was supposed to score regularly. But his contribution so far is a lone goal only. Hulk or Jo whenever given opportunity also failed to avail so far. Tonight one of them will have play like Neymar if Brazil has to carry the dream of the Soccer mad nation and billions of the followers around the world.
BDST: 0834 HRS, JUL 08, 2014
