Neymar da Silva Santos Junior and his Injury have dominated World Cup headlines this past week, and rightfully so. The true poster-boy of Brazil 2014, a national treasure and the Selecao’s talismanic figure will now play no further part at these finals as begins his recovery from the fractured vertebra suffered against Colombia.
With the 22-year-olds absence comes the loss of that added sparkle, that moment of magic that can inspire victory and a presence so strong that it strikes fear into an opponent even before a ball is kicked.
Now there is no hiding place for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men, in this moment of despair they must unite as one in order to progress into the final.
However, from the certainty of the Barcelona starlets injury comes clarity for the Selecao, if he had even the slightest chance of playing in either Belo Horizonte or at the Maracana should they reach the final, this could cause complications for whoever steps into Neymar’s shadow. Now his replacement can put their stamp on Brazil’s World Cup campaign.
There is a growing sense that, to overcome the anguish of Neymar’s loss, Scolari must use all his experience and ability to unite the squad, and boost the confidence and morale of the Selecao, but with an admission that victory will not be easy, if Brazil can overcome Joachim Low’s Germany it could be likened to an escape by that of a magician.
A trio of players are now vying for the number 10 position, Willian, Oscar and Bernard, all of whom are capable of producing that moment of magic needed to unlock even the most stubborn of defences. However, the least likely to feature is Bernard who, while not lacking in technical ability, could potentially be dominated by the physicality of Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng and Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels given his slight frame.
However, Brazil captain Thiago Silva, who will also be missing through suspension issued his own confidence in the youngsters’ suitability claiming that the characteristics of Willian and Bernard are closest to Neymar.
Germany are very organised in the middle of the park, and the lynchpin of their success during this World Cup campaign has been Bayern’s Toni Kroos, and with both he and Bastian Schweinsteiger to contend with Scolari may baulk at replacing a like-for-like to compensate and instead pack the midfield with combative midfielders. A role both Luiz Gustavo and Ramires are more than capable of filling.
Brazil’s forward line of Hulk, Fred and Jo must now step out of Neymar’s shadow and deliver against the Germans, but more importantly must now unite as a team to overcome the absence of their star performer.
Gone is the reliance on the poster-boy of Brazilian football and Hulk and Fred must finally start to lead the Selecao attack and muscle their way past Low’s resolute German side, even if it is without the free-flowing samba style we have become used to with previous generations.
If Brazil can overcome this huge obstacle and even go on to lift the World Cup, it may even be considered nothing short of a miracle.
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