The Barcelona midfielder overshadowed his prominent teammate.
This was supposed to be Neymar’s tournament to cement his reputation as one of the best in the world. Bringing a sixth World Cup trophy back to Brazil after a 16-year drought would ensure his place in their history alongside greats such as Pele, Socrates, Romario and Ronaldo.
He got his dream move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona last season in order to move away from Lionel Messi’s shadow. In the process he became the most expensive player in football history. However, that move hasn’t gone as planned because his side lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16.
Brazil offered another opportunity for him, though, because they have a talented manager in Tite as well as a strong squad. His 4-3-3 set-up saw them comfortably come top of CONMEBOL qualifying and only lose once in 21 games prior to the tournament. Neymar’s metatarsal injury in February meant he was a in a race against time to be fit, but he managed it. Selecao did lose Dani Alves to injury prior to the tournament, which was a huge blow.
Regardless, Brazil were rightfully seen as one of the pre-tournament favourites. They were much stronger than four years ago when emotions got them so far, but also contributed to the biggest humiliation in their history. Neymar was the pivotal member of that team, and his injury completely derailed them. Tite had managed to create a side which didn’t rely on him as much with Coutinho being a key part of that.
Group Stages
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Brazil started their campaign against an experienced Switzerland side. They targeted Neymar with some cynical play due to it being his first competitive match since the injury. This effectively limited him with Valon Behrami’s man-marking job working well. However, Coutinho found space in his favourite area just on the edge of the box and fired a curling effort to pull his side ahead. The game ultimately ended in a draw as the Swiss frustrated them and scored from a set piece.
The second match was similar as Costa Rica thwarted them, although Tite’s men did go close on a number of occasions. However, they eventually broke through as Coutinho prodded home from Gabriel Jesus’ flick in the 90th minute. Neymar scored a second at the end to confirm three points.
A draw was needed against Serbia to confirm a Round of 16 place. However, Brazil wanted to finish first and did so with a 2-0 victory. Coutinho was once again involved in breaking the deadlock as his beautiful lofted pass found Paulinho who chipped the goalkeeper to score. Neymar then found Thiago Silva with an inch-perfect corner to double the lead.
Knockout rounds
The Round of 16 clash against Mexico was easily Neymar’s best game as he tore through them with his dribbling multiple times. However, his theatrics distracted from the quality of his performance. His well worked one-two with Willian pulled them ahead as he started and ended the move. He also practically assisted the second as his shot was diverted into the path of Roberto Firmino near the end of the game. Guillermo Ochoa kept his side in the game with a number of excellent saves throughout.
Belgium were the next challenge in their path to World Cup glory. A side that has never lived up to its reputation even though it contains talented players such as Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Toby Alderweireld. This World Cup comes at a pivotal moment for them as the majority of their ‘golden generation’ are at their peak.
They ended up being too much for Brazil, although luck certainly played a huge part in that. A Fernandinho own goal and a quick counter-attack finished by De Bruyne gave them an early two goal lead. Brazil were unable to pull a goal back until the 76th minute when Renato Augusto headed home a delightful chip from Coutinho.
Selecao
really applied the pressure after this with multiple opportunities. Roberto Firmino fired over after being found by Neymar in the box. Augusto fired wide after being played in by Coutinho on the edge of the box. Coutinho was then guilty of completely misjudging his effort after Neymar worked an opening for him. Neymar then had a curled effort saved by Thibaut Courtois, which was heading into the top corner. However, they couldn’t find the equaliser.
Conclusion
Direct cotributions can be misleading because creating chances is reliant on a teammate being able to finish. However, Neymar was nowhere near decisive enough and his opposite No. 10 Eden Hazard was significantly better in a key encounter even though he wasn’t directly involved in a goal.
His recovery from injury probably played a part in his performances, but he should have got better as the tournament went on. There were a number of times when his failure to pass at a crucial moment caused a move to break down. His willingness to try and do everything by himself cost his team. There is no doubting his dribbling ability and the openings he can create through that, but making the best decision at that point is crucial. He often acted selfishly rather than moving the ball on.
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It’s a shame the best of Neymar was only seen near the end of the Belgium match. The desperate need for a goal led to better decision-making and he utilised the openings he found himself in. A full 90 minutes of that would have likely seen a completely different result. However, Brazil’s failure will see his diving and theatrics scrutinised even more.
Coutinho was in complete contrast to that as he assisted his teammates with some stunning pieces of individual brilliance. His assist for Renato Augusto provided a route back into the game at a crucial time. Ultimately, he was more decisive when it mattered in multiple games even though he was often in a deeper position. It seems like Barcelona have got the right Brazilian heading into the new season.