Dubai: It’s not easy being Neymar. At least not when the wiry Barcelona star dons the yellow and gold of Brazil.
In a rare time of drought for the five-time World Cup winners, Neymar is coach Dunga’s one true world-class star. The trouble is, Brazil’s sole true match-winner won’t be winning them any matches for the remainder of the 2015 Copa America thanks to a four-match ban for his red card and petulant reaction against Colombia in the group stage.
Neymar’s fifth major tournament has already ended in another major disappointment. And this just 12 months after he was kicked out of his home World Cup (ironically also at the hands of Colombia), begging the question just how long will the outrageously talented forward have to wait for international success?
The 23-year-old was the star of the show as Brazil dominated the 2013 Confederations Cup, the testing pot for last summer’s World Cup, beating then-world champions Spain 3-0 in the final. But, when it came to the main event, that proved to be a false dawn as Brazil — without a major title since the 2007 Copa America — were embarrassed 7-1 in the semi-finals by eventual winners Germany, with Neymar sat in the stands nursing his damaged back.
The main problem for both team and player is that this waif-like figure (he weighs just 68kg) has to carry Brazil both physically and figuratively. Whereas with the Selecao’s last World Cup-winning team of 2002, when opponents didn’t know whether to target Ronaldo, Ronaldinho or Rivaldo, opponents now believe that, if they shut down Neymar, they stop Brazil.
The likes of Robinho, Oscar, Willian, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have plenty of talent and highlights reels that would put most to shame, but without Neymar this is one of the most under-whelming Brazil teams in decades. Even the workmanlike generation of 1994 had the deadly Romario and Bebeto up front to ensure they won the World Cup in the United States.
One gets the feeling Neymar, made captain for the Copa America, doesn’t want to be the sole carrier of a football-mad nation’s hopes. When playing for Barcelona alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, he thrives, but on national duty he looks stressed, agitated and ready to explode — just as he did against Colombia.
“You want to make yourself famous at my expense, you son of a [expletive],” he is reported to have said to referee Enrique Osses in the tunnel after his red card last week.
And he told media afterwards: “in my view, the rules are always used against me”, as though Brazil’s footballing saviour should be above the rules. “They put a weak referee in there to whistle up for all that,” he added.
It wasn’t until later, after cooling off, that he showed any contrition.
“I waited with great faith in the hope of still being able to serve the Brazilian national team in this Copa America,” he wrote on Instagram. “Unfortunately it will not be possible.
“I was given the duty of being one of the group leaders and, as captain, take responsibility for bringing glory and making decisions, whether wrong or right.
“I apologise to my colleagues for putting myself in this situation, but I’m sure this was an important learning curve in my career.”
He will learn from his mistakes, but Dunga also needs to admit he erred in giving his star turn the captain’s armband. Neymar, though a fantastic player, is still too young to be skipper, especially when he is playing alongside a born leader in centre-back Thiago Silva. The Paris Saint-Germain stopper should be the one leading from the front, protecting his much-targeted teammate and ensuring he doesn’t do anything stupid.
For now, Neymar must watch the rest of the Copa America on television, cheering on his compatriots while dreaming of returning to Barcelona and playing in the Camp Nou dream team.
He has faith Brazil can cope without him, saying: “I think there’s a lot of life in Selecao without Neymar. The players have shown that they can win games and win Copa America. Brazil has plenty of great players. I’m absolutely confident of this team and the players that are there representing it. They are all big names who’ll take care of business.”
Few will agree with him.
Whatever happens in the rest of the Copa America in Chile, it’s clear Brazil need Neymar if they are to bring back their glory days. But, more importantly, Neymar needs help both on and off the pitch to ensure his talent is reflected in trophies.
