Brazil, against Switzerland and against the Neymar dependency

Brazil is playing against Switzerland this Monday –5:00 pm Spanish time– looking for automatic qualification for the round of 16 of the tournament but more, trying to convince themselves that without Neymar they could be world champions. Neymar’s hope in football and emotional level is the big concern of coach Tite and his technical staff, where two calm men who know what it is to compete at the highest level stand out- only: César Sampaio and Juninho.

Neymar sprained his right ankle in the most-posted photo in the run-up to the match. An ankle that shows the number of fouls he received during his career, the scars and the last hit, incidentally, a game set, although it is no coincidence that the footballer received the most fouls of the day of the opening.

The picture of Neymar’s ankle shows how it is still swollen, showing that it won’t be that easy bring him back even if he spends 24 hours a day in physiotherapy, as Marquinhos explained. It is an ankle that hurts the national team and even more so the technical staff, who work more emotionally than football.

Rodrygo will come in for Neymar and Vinicius Jr will be more prominent. Militao will replace Danilo. Raphinha will have more of the ball, as will Richarlison. On board, the canarinha has players with experience to face the game against Switzerland and Cameroon, the two that Neymar will surely lose, without problems.

But one thing is the blackboard and another is the emotional part. Neymar is the leader of this team and his suffering is heavy. That is why they insist from the selection sending messages that reinforce Ney’s capacity for sacrifice but remember that this ‘seleçao’ has already won without him. “I did not realize that Neymar was injured – Tite lamented – he played 11 minutes injured because he wanted to help the team, as he did. I feel bad that I did not realize.”

The coach wanted another photo to steal the limelight from Neymar’s ankle, that of a Qatari carrying his grandson on his shoulders to help his wife, who took the subway after the game with her two grandchildren . “I want to highlight solidarity. Football is it, helping each other. I want to thank that person.” This was the only moment Neymar was not discussed.

Switzerland will face Brazil with three points won against Cameroon thanks to their goalkeeper Sommer, extraordinary, and Embolo, the scorer of Cameroonian origin who gives freshness to a quality and experienced team. Murat Yakin, his coach, explained that his mother was going to Brazil because she was a fan of Pelé, and that the ‘canarinha’ “had footballers to make three teams”. Be practical, aggressive and think that if they leave Italy in the World Cup they can beat a ‘canarinha’ Neymardependiente.