BHARGAB SARMAH

NIZHNY NOVGOROD: The Brazil camp has been sweating over the fitness of Neymar over the past few days after the Paris SaintGermain (PSG) forward hobbled off a training session earlier this week.

He is now back in business but there will be a few concerns over him after being subjected to 10 fouls by Switzerland, the most on any player in two decades at a World Cup game. This after Neymar missed three months of action prior to the World Cup due to a foot injury.

Four years back when Neymar was spearheading Brazil’s World Cup campaign at home, his injury in the quarterfinal against Colombia saw him being ruled out of the rest of the tournament. An insipid Brazil then suffered a 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany in the semifinals before going down 3-0 to The Netherlands in the third-place play-off.

COUTINHO SUPPORT

This time, however, there isn’t as much reliance on Neymar. In Barcelona star Philippe Countinho, Brazil have a player who can not only support the PSG star, but also replace him on the left flank.

Neymar scored six of Brazil’s 41 goals during the qualifying campaign with Gabriel Jesus topping the charts for his side with seven goals in 10 matches.

Goals also came from Paulinho, who scored as many as Neymar, and Coutinho and Willian. With Roberto Firmino arriving in Russia on the back of a prolific season with Liverpool, there is another lethal attacking option for coach Tite.

PART OF THE WHOLE

“He will be missed by any team but not having him sometimes helps us consolidate the style we want,” centre-back Thiago Silva was quoted as saying by AP ahead of the World Cup.

Tite’s comments on Neymar after Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Croatia earlier this month summed up the difference between this side and the one four years back.

“Neymar’s different but he should not have to win a game on his own. It’s inhuman (to expect him to do so). He is important to us but he is part of a strong team,” Tite said. The Switzerland game showed that Neymar will be in for