Casemiro backs Rodrygo to replace Neymar
…as Wales renew England rivalry tomorrow
Versatile Brazil forward Rodrygo has hugely impressed international teammate Casemiro, who said on Saturday he could replace the injured Neymar as a World Cup starter.
Neymar is due to miss Brazil’s next two group games against Switzerland today and Cameroon on Friday after he was injured in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Serbia. But Manchester United’s Casemiro says the Selecao have a new talent in Rodrygo, 21, who is ready to sparkle.
“Rodrygo lit up my eyes. He’s a star,” said Casemiro from Brazil’s training base in Doha. “God gave him the gift of playing football. It’s beautiful watching him play.”
Rodrygo normally operates on the flanks or as a centre-forward, but his coaches at both club and international level have said he can play anywhere across the forward positions, including in Neymar’s No 10 role.
Another who has impressed is West Ham’s attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta. “Paqueta is the player who has developed the most,” said Casemiro.
“He’s very dynamic, very modern. He can play in midfield, as a false nine. It’s a privilege to play with him.”
Inevitably, though, the conversation always comes around to Neymar, who damaged ankle ligaments against Serbia.
“If we keep talking about Neymar, we’ll be speaking for days and days about the player he is,” Casemiro told reporters. “He’s the star of the team, the one who makes a difference.
“But we have other top players. Sometimes I feel sorry for opponents, given the huge number of options we have.”
Wales heading for exit door, but remains hopeful against England
The odds are heavily stacked against Wales reaching the last-16 ahead of their so-called Battle of Britain against England tomorrow. But if they are to fly home early, they will want to do so with pride restored.
Wales have waited 64 long years to qualify for a World Cup. But after conceding two goals to Iran deep into stoppage time on Friday, it starting to look like a brief stay in the Middle East for them.
That late defeat left Wales crestfallen and at the bottom of group B, and needing to beat England for only the 14th time in
104 meetings, a rivalry dating back to 1879.
Even a victory might not be enough to save Wales as they would also need the other remaining group match between Iran and the United States to end in a draw.
There is one other scenario, one which has never happened before, in which Wales must beat England by four goals, in which case they would go through to the last-16,
whatever the result of the other game, at the expense of England.
While the complexities of the maths are head-spinning, Wales will just want to land a blow on their old rivals, snap a run of six consecutive defeats against them and claim a first win over England since 1984.
For that to happen, they will require some magic from their talisman Gareth Bale, who scored
an equalising penalty in the opening game against the US, but who was rather anonymous in the defeat by Iran.
The prospect of facing England may just spark something special from the 33-year-old former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur player, who is most likely to be playing the last World Cup match of his career.