DHAKA: Brazil star Neymar has slammed the country's training mentality, insisting the nation lags well behind Germany and Spain.

Last summer the Selecao defeated Spain 3-0 in the Confederations Cup and were the favourites heading into the World Cup, but they were humiliated in the semi-finals with a 7-1 loss to Germany after failing to seriously impress throughout the tournament.

Neymar, 22, was out injured for the semi-final defeat to Joachim Low's men and the subsequent 3-0 third-place play-off drubbing at the hands of Netherlands, but was one the bright sparks of the hosts' campaign.

And the Barcelona forward has criticised the way that Brazilian clubs approach match practice and says they have a lot of catching up to do if they want to nurture more players on a par with teams across the Atlantic Ocean.

"Every training session in Europe is taken seriously," he told Rede Globo. "In Brazil it's different. You train more, but sometimes you train with less determination. Brazilians are like that."

"I think Brazilian football is behind. It's behind Germany and Spain. We have fallen behind and we have to man up and admit that."

Neymar remains a major doubt to be fit in time to start the 2014-15 La Liga season with Barca due to the back injury sustained against Colombia in the World Cup quarter-finals, but he will return to Spain in August.

Source: goal

BDST: 1018 HRS, JUL 19, 2014