WWW.IRISHMIRROR.IE BEHRAMI: NO MORE EAGLE CELEBRATION

NEYMAR is being lined up to lead Brazil’s misfiring attack as coach Tite looks to avoid equalling an unwanted record that has stood for 44 years.

Gabriel Jesus and Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino are yet to score at the World Cup, despite the team having 43 efforts at goal in their first two games.

So the five-time world champions have been using Neymar in a central striking role during training.

And Tite must decide whether to gamble on using his most important player in an unfamiliar position in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium.

The last time a Brazil striker failed to score in the group stages of a World Cup was in 1974 – when Scotland forced a goalless draw against them.

Jesus has started both the 1-1 draw with Switzerland and the 2-0 victory over Costa Rica.

The 21-year-old was replaced by Firmino in the first game, but was paired with the Kop forward for the last 22 minutes against Costa Rica.

Philippe Coutinho has scored in both games, with Neymar also breaking his

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Alisson, Fagner, Miranda, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Casemiro, Paulinho, Willian, Coutinho, Neymar, Jesus

duck. But the big debate in Brazil revolves around whether Jesus or Firmino deserves to start against Serbia.

Former Brazil striker Walter Casagrande said: “I think Firmino is in a better place than Jesus because he finished the season better.

“But Jesus has a better record for the national team.

“I think that they can play together, even though few teams currently play with two strikers. My belief is that Tite will only employ them both together in an emergency, like he did against Costa Rica.

“The No.9 must score to have confidence to assert himself. It’s a big call.”

Tite has been holding meetings with his technical staff that have sometimes stretched to four hours as he examines all his available options.

One of the tactical plans he has looked at is to play Neymar as a false central striker in a system which would see Jesus’ Etihad team-mate Fernandinho come into the team to add more drive from midfield.

But that plan has been compromised slightly by the loss of Douglas Costa with a thigh strain that might finish his tournament.

Costa’s wife has added insult to injury by suggesting on social media that her husband has fallen victim to Tite’s intense training sessions.

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