Dubai: The legendary Aldair expects Brazil to rally around a free-scoring and Europe-hardened Neymar Jr. at next year’s Fifa World Cup on home soil.
“Neymar has shown what he is capable of during the final of the Confederations Cup last week. Time and again, he tore through the Spanish defence with his clever thinking and Brazil ultimately won against the defending champions quite easily,” Aldair told Gulf News on the sidelines of the third Dubai Indoor Football Championship that concludes at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Saturday.
“I expect a lot more from this team as they will be playing at home before fans who adore the game. There is still one more year to go and that is time enough for the team to evolve and become better than what we saw last Sunday,” he added.
Brazil has seldom unearthed great defenders. But between 1989 and 2000, the Selecao was served by a player who was worthy of inclusion in this bracket.
Imposing yet elegant, Aldair Santos do Nascimento, or simply Aldair, provided a rock at the heart of their backline, pocketing 81 caps and helping his country win two Copa America crowns, the Fifa Confederations Cup in 1997 and the 1994 Fifa World Cup.
The next 12 months will also be crucial for Brazil and more importantly for Neymar, who is seen as a vital cog in coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s scheme of things as the 21-year-old heads to Europe to complete a formidable line-up with Argentinean sensation Lionel Messi.
“I have a feeling that next year will be his [Neymar] World Cup. He’s a talented player and the great Pele admits this as well. With one season with the European style alongside players such as Messi, Iniesta and Xavi, I can only see Neymar get better and deliver a record sixth World Cup for Brazil,” Aldair predicted.
“No doubt the next few months are going to be very crucial for him as it will be a great learning curve about all things European. He’s going to be stepping out of his comfort zone and it will be important for him and for Brazil to see how he can adapt and become better,” he added.
Aldair’s performances in the US were crucial to his country’s fourth Fifa World Cup conquest. While Romario was a deserved recipient of the adidas Golden Ball and Dunga gained applause for his impelling leadership, it was Aldair’s unwavering command of the backline that helped Brazil beat tournament top scorers Sweden by a solitary goal in the semi-finals and maintain another clean sheet against Italy in the final, which the South Americans ultimately won on penalties.
“Yes there will be pressure for sure on Brazil to win at home where fans can be quite unforgiving when it comes to football. But that is because our fans are very passionate. But if we start doing things well from the start then the fans will be there to back us all the way to win the Cup.”
