Coach Fernando Diniz conveyed a reassuring message, emphasizing that the weight of filling Neymar’s formidable shoes shouldn’t burden any player in Brazil.
Neymar, the 31-year-old captain, recently underwent surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, sidelining him until mid-2024. This setback, however, does not diminish Diniz’s confidence in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina, as he trusts the young, talented team at his disposal.
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Diniz stressed the team’s wealth of talent and urged against fixating on replacing Neymar.
“Nobody has to worry about taking over Neymar’s role. We have an extremely talented generation. Many can take on this role, but it’s important that we don’t put that weight on them. The players have to feel light and do their best. They’ll naturally take centre stage”
Then, he highlighted the potential of players like Raphinha, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus to shine without shouldering the specific role of Neymar. This emphasized the importance of allowing players to feel a sense of lightness and naturally assume the spotlight on their own terms.
In a positive and forward-looking move, Diniz introduced 17-year-old prodigy Endrick to the squad, citing his merit and promising future potential.
“Endrick is here because of his merit and enormous future potential. We don’t have to expect everything from a 17-year-old Endrick. I see huge potential. He could become one of those legendary players in Brazilian football, but time will tell,”
Currently occupying the third spot in the South American qualifying group, Brazil, tied with second-placed Uruguay and fourth-placed Venezuela at seven points, trails behind Argentina with 12 points after four games.
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