Brazil gears up for their CONMEBOL qualifiers without Neymar Jr in their ranks for the upcoming fixtures. The Brazilian star sustained a ruptured ACL in left knee during the 2-0 loss against Uruguay, leading him to sit out of this current season. On this note, the Brazil coach remarks Neymar’s condition as unfortunate for the squad despite having alternatives to ensure a competitive performance in the next game. Yet, the manager has a plan!
Brazil is scheduled to play Columbia and Argentina in the next two qualifier fixtures. The South American side will be without the Al Hilal star’s contribution until the final rounds of the tournament. However, the manager believes they can put a dominant team in the match, providing ample opportunities for the other stars to shine in Neymar’s absence.
What did the Brazilian coach remark on missing out on Neymar for his injury
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Neymar netted 79 goals in 128 games for the national squad, contributing to their recent fortunes. However, this season, the PSG star’s injury woes have been a serious miss for Brazil. Fernando Diniz, the national coach, has expressed concern for the Barca icon’s absence as it would substantially reduce the impact in the offensive third of the games. The Al Hilal winger’s torn ligament worries the head coach, as they might jeopardize the positive momentum demonstrated before the Uruguay match.
Diniz said in the press conference, “It’s a real shame, a real sadness, not to be able to count on Neymar. Especially, with an injury as serious as the one he had.”
Meanwhile, soccer fans are pondering which players will assume the role of Neymar in the team. Fernando Diniz believes they have alternatives to bolster their attacking third for the upcoming games. Let’s see what makes the Brazilian coach confident about his squad for the qualifier games.
Brazil's head coach Fernando Diniz has confidence in his squad to make up for the absence of the injured Neymar Jr and Casemiro. #Brazil #NeymarJr #Casemiro
🗣️ "Replacing Neymar and Casemiro will be a team effort for Brazil.'
[📹 Stats Perform] pic.twitter.com/Kq7IS6McST— Football.com (@Footballcomglob) November 16, 2023
Does Brazil possess a roster to outperform without the Al Hilal star?
Brazil made seven points from the first four qualifiers’ games and stood third in the group standings. However, Fernando Diniz remains optimistic about enhancing their position in the qualifiers, relying on the talents within the team. Soccer stars like Raphinha, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, and Gabriel Martinelli might hold the key to securing the games in style.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
READ MORE: 5 Times Neymar’s Haircut Caused Huge Controversy as He Shaved His Head While Recovering From Injury
Moreover, the 39-year-old coach selected Endrick, the teenage prodigy, for his first national team call-up, offering an opportunity to showcase his abilities in the upcoming games. The 5x World Cup winners underwent extensive training with the entire squad and appeared well-prepared for the upcoming games.
Diniz added, “It is always good to be able to count on everyone. We have to give the others a chance and maximize the potential of the team that we play. They’re players who have a lot of potential, all of them who are here and we hope they’ll have a positive impact”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch this story: NFL Star’s Wife Celebrates Soccer Greatest Lionel Messi’s Miami Transfer with Unbridled Joy
Do you think Brazil will win against Colombia without Neymar? Comment and share your thoughts.