Brazil without Neymar- Will they stand?

Oh, we all know. It’s Brazil and they are very well the favorites to win their 6th on their home turf. Their formidable team is enough for most to just sit down and weep, for Brazil have had a brilliant time. And at the heart and soul of this Goliath is Neymar, the Brazilian wonder-kid. He has impressed most, if not all with his creativity,flair, dribbles and shooting. Being just 22 years old, he might very well carry the weight of Brazil for a real long time. But when god himself (Pele) worries about the pressure the prodigy is under right now, we can only wait and watch.

But is he critical to the Brazil team we all know? 

Neymar – Center of Attraction

Neymar , though at his first season with his new club F.C. Barcelona, has shut many critics by displaying class football out of his home-nation Brazil, where he played for his previous club, Santos.

Tournament	Apps	Goals	Assists	Yellow	Red	SpG	PS%	AW	MoM	Rating
La Liga	19(7)	9	8	6	–	2.6	84.4	0.5	4	7.49
UEFA Champions League	9(1)	4	3	1	–	3.7	86.4	0.3	3	7.68
Copa America	3	2	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total	31 (8)	15	11	7		2.9	85	0.4	7	7.54

As we can see here,although being injured twice in the same season he has done quite spectacularly. I on my personal opinion didn’t expect much from him. Starting almost every match, he has almost contributed in every match. Almost 3 shots per game and 15 goals, doesn’t show a good conversion rate, but the whole story is he is a winger who loves to come inside and take risks by trying shots which most wouldn’t attempt unless fully confident. Most don’t go in, but the ones which do make us jump for more.

What if,( Not jinxing it!) Neymar gets injured? Will the brazil squad be able to manage without him?

Let’s look at the other contenders for the spot. First up-          Bernard.

Bernard

Tournament	Apps	Goals	Assists	Yellow	Red	SpG	PS%	AW	MoM	Rating
Ukranian Premier League	7(10)	2	N/A	1	–	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
UEFA Champions League	2(4)	–	–	–	–	0.5	80.8	0.2	–	6.49
UEFA Europa League	1(1)	–	–	–	–	1	82.9	–	–	6.33
Total	10 (15)	2		1		0.6	81.4	0.2		6.45

Bernard has been,well, I don’t know why he is in the final squad. He hasn’t played much for his team Shaktar this season, neither has he seen much of European cups(Champions league +Europa). The factor which keeps him in the team might be his young age and a chance for experience. He just like Neymar like to come on from the left and put some in. But he lacks the agility which Neymar has. He won’t be playing,that’s for sure!

What about Hulk?

The Incredible Hulk

Tournament	Apps	Goals	Assists	Yellow	Red	SpG	PS%	AW	MoM	Rating
Russian Premier League	23(1)	17	6	4	1	4.3	75.8	0.2	4	7.77
UEFA Champions League*	8	4	2	2	–	5.8	70.3	0.6	2	7.54
Total	31 (1)	21	8	6	1	4.7	74.4	0.3	6	7.71

He has undoubtedly had the season of his life. Yes, most of us didn’t even have a clue. His games at Zenit often go unnoticed and although he is credited for his talents, he is hugely undermined in front of his compatriot-in-arms Neymar. The top-scorer, he has been quite brilliant, having a better shot rate as well as a better rating. People might say that it’s because he is in an easier league, but I say it’s because he is the only one after Di Maria equal to Neymar in terms of agility, flair and shot accuracy+power in the sub-continent. But it’s obvious that he’ll be playing right alongside him so un-debatable, is it?

The striker who switches often,                Jo.

Jo

Tournament	Apps	Goals	Assists	Yellow	Red	SpG	PS%	AW	MoM	Rating
Brasileirão*	2	–	1	–	–	1	76.7	1.5	–	6.48
Total	2 (0)		1			1	76.7	1.5		6.48

Honestly put the statistics just for the sake of it. He hasn’t played a lot this year, but we know what he is capable of! An imposing aerial threat, which neither Neymar or Hulk could match, he gives great long passes as well as short key passes. The former Manchester City striker is very well capable of troubling quite some with his long balls, but as far as the dribbling is considered, he doesn’t even belong in the same league. Again, with the work of crosses/ key passes/long balls often done by their fullback pair of Dani Alves and Marcelo, a big nope from my side if he is even considered a replacement!

Brazil generally play a 4-3-3 formation, direct passing, full-on attack and aggressive. Passing plays a very important role in their game. Lets match them up.

Neymar:

Tournament	Apps	Assists	Key Passes	Avg. Passes	Pass Suc%	Crosses	LB	TB	Rating
La Liga*	19(7)	8	1.6	36.6	84.4	0.4	0.3	0.2	7.49
UEFA Champions League*	9(1)	3	1.4	41.8	86.4	0.4	0.6	0.3	7.68
Copa America	3	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total	31 (8)	11	1.5	38	85	0.4	0.4	0.2	7.54

 

Hulk:

Tournament	Apps	Assists	Key Passes	Avg. Passes	Pass Suc%	Crosses	LB	TB	Rating
Premier League*	23(1)	6	1.9	30.3	75.8	0.9	1.3	0.1	7.77
UEFA Champions League*	8	2	1.5	32.9	70.3	0.5	1.6	0.3	7.54
Total	31 (1)	8	1.8	31	74.4	0.8	1.4	0.2	7.71

 

Bernard:

Tournament	Apps	Assists	Key Passes	Avg. Passes	Pass Suc%	Crosses	LB	TB	Rating
Premier League	7(10)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
UEFA Champions League*	2(4)	–	0.8	13	80.8	0.5	1.3	–	6.49
UEFA Europa League*	1(1)	–	2.5	17.5	82.9	1	–	–	6.33
Total	10 (15)		1.2	14.1	81.4	0.6	1.3	NaN	6.45

 

Just look at passing rate of these players. As I claimed earlier, Hulk has a better key-pass/game ratio as well as no. of crosses/game ratio. We can also say that neymar has a better pass success rate and higher no. of average passes but let us remember he plays the tiki-taka at Barcelona and that is bound to happen. He does have higher number of assists  than Hulk and that is where he stands out. Creating the game as well as taking the lead. Bernard hasn’t had enough chances to prove his worth,so I don’t think it will be right to judge him equal to these two. He isn’t a passer-pusher player and plays rather fast-a quick through or maybe a one touch play. quite the reason why his average pass per game is that low.

FINAL OPINION:

Although Brazil have one of the strongest teams this time around, they don’t have the most idiot-proof team. I think Scolari might have missed this part of the team selection. The only player who is capable enough of replacing Neymar is Hulk and quite appropriately playing along-side him. Jo does have the capability but his lack of regular action apart from the international matches creates a mist of doubt. And quite obviously Bernard is too young to handle the game. The team without Neymar might manage against the smaller teams but as soon as they reach the round of 16, It’s a dead end for them. Hulk from one side wouldn’t be enough to help them win the game! Let’s just hope for the spirit of the game that this doesn’t happen and we have the best world Cup we have seen yet! For the beautiful game!