This Friday (24), Estêvão turned 19 years old. I hope it was a happy birthday and that he has a chance to go to the World Cup. At the time this column was written, neither Chelsea nor the player have officially taken a position on the extent of the muscle injury he suffered in the match against Manchester United, on Saturday (18).
The Athletic website was the first to report that it would be grade 4, the most serious, which would most likely take him out of the World Cup. The club’s interim coach confirmed that he is out until the end of the season, which doesn’t say much because it ends in May.
It would be a blow for the Brazilian team. Estêvão is the top scorer of the Carlo Ancelotti era. Present and future of the team. Talented, friendly and humble.
Even without knowing what happened and whether Estêvão will even try a conservative treatment, the possibility of a vacancy in the attack being opened sparked the debate about whether the space should be occupied by Neymar.
It seems that today, in Brazil, there is a war between those who don’t want Santos’ number ten in the World Cup at all and those who defend him at any cost. In between, there are considered positions from sports journalists and fans.
The same The Athletic did a beautiful report on the topic entitled “Does Estêvão’s injury open the door for Neymar?”. The author argues that there are no physical arguments for its inclusion and it is difficult to understand why the debate remains heated. He says that, recently, “the only consistent thing about Neymar is his inconsistency.”
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a Datafolha survey revealed that 54% of Brazilians have no interest in the World Cup, the highest percentage since 1994. The team has talented players, but arrives at the World Cup under some suspicion. The coach is one of the best on the planet, but he didn’t have enough time. The absence of a world title for 24 years and, also, the mix of sport and politics weigh heavily.
Years ago, a boss at the time told me: “Marina, Brazilians don’t like sports, they like winning.” This is how staunch Neymar defenders behave. It doesn’t matter if he fights with fans, shows emotional imbalance, hasn’t played at a high level in years. They believe that, if there is a possibility, however small it may be, that in just one move, he might, just perhaps, help to win a game or get closer to the title, it is necessary to call him up anyway. For these people, Neymar is seen as an imaginary savior.
Ancelotti has enough experience and morale to be respected whatever his decision in the squad for the World Cup on May 18. At the moment, Neymar’s inclusion seems unlikely.
This week, Queen Elizabeth II would have turned one hundred years old. It was discussed here in England how the monarch represented for the British the idea of stability, of pride in the country, and how today they are experiencing a crisis of national identity with the royal family surrounded by scandals – with the cases of Andrew and Harry – and a king who is not so popular. The date brought back memories of a time that no longer exists.
You have to look forward. Supporting Neymar at any cost in the World Cup, at this moment, is just living in the past.
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