Main pillar of coach Carlo Ancelotti in the Brazilian team, absolute starter in the midfield of the team that will go to the World Cup (in June and July in North America), Casemiro made a strong defense of Neymar’s presence among the squad.
“It’s very clear: Neymar doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone,” the 34-year-old Manchester United midfielder, who is heading to his third World Cup, told ESPN. “He’s the team’s star, the team’s guy.” He highlighted the “talent” that “he has with the ball at his feet”.
The number 5, who claims to be a “big fan” and “great friend” of the striker, emphasized what Ancelotti said several times: if Neymar proves to be physically fit, he will be on the squad list for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, regardless of whether he has not been called up here since the Italian took office in May last year.
“If you’re physically well, there’s no discussion: you have to go”, declared Casemiro.
I agree with Casemiro and go further, repeating what I wrote before: Neymar is necessary in the World Cup, even if he is not 100%.
Maybe not to be a starter (and he would need to understand and accept that), but to be called upon when the team needs a difference, someone who brings an extra touch of intelligence and creativity to offensive actions and who can define a dead ball, a free kick, for example.
Technical preference aside, the essential question must be asked: is Neymar, 34, who has dealt with injuries in recent years, is he physically well?
Less than two weeks before the selection for the World Cup, the number 10 scored a goal again, after a break of five matches. It was Santos’ 1-1 against the fragile Recoleta in Paraguay, this Tuesday (5), in the Copa Sudamericana.
Relevant: it wasn’t a penalty or foul, but with the ball rolling. He received a pass from Rollheiser in the area and shot into the goalkeeper’s corner.
Also relevant: he played relatively well (there’s no point being on the field and being, using BBB language, a plant). There were five shots, two towards the goal (the first ended up in the net) and one against the post (from a free kick). He moved and completed 86% of his passes. He lost the ball many times, but only those who risk dribbling and try something different lose. He suffered nine fouls, being heavily targeted.
Very relevant: he played from the beginning to the end of the game, which shows that the body is coping, withstanding the level of demand.
Very important: the captain of the Santos team has been constantly playing all the time (the 90 minutes plus stoppage time). Since the beginning of April, this is the seventh time it has happened. Not being replaced means resistance, and resistance means good physical shape: breath and muscles in good condition.
It should be noted that during this period Neymar was spared from two Santos matches, as a visitor, in the Brazilian Championship: Bahia and Palmeiras. To rest, in the first of them (that is, there was some physical wear), and to avoid a greater risk of injury, in the second, due to the synthetic grass of the Palmeiras arena.
There are three games left for the club until Carletto’s call-up: Bragantino, on Sunday (10), for the Brazilian Championship, Coritiba, on Wednesday (13), for the Copa do Brasil, and Coritiba again, on Sunday (17), for the Brazilian Championship. The first and last will be in Vila Belmiro. The middle one, in Couto Pereira, Paraná.
If he continues to support a high number of minutes, does not get injured and has a minimum of technical efficiency, it is, according to Ancelotti’s speech, perfectly plausible, and even expected, that Neymar will have his name announced by the coach at the CBF headquarters, on the 18th, in the announcement of the 26 squad.
LINK PRESENT: Did you like this text? Subscribers can access seven free accesses from any link per day. Just click the blue F below.
