NEYMAR CAN’T WIN IT ALL ON HIS OWN, SAYS BRAZIL COACH
BRAZIL head coach Tite last night defended Neymar, insisting the under-fire superstar of his team shouldn’t be expected to win the World Cup on his own. The Brazilians face Serbia in their final Group E match tonight knowing that a defeat could send them home.
The five-time champions drew their opening game against Switzerland before struggling to break down Costa Rica last time out.
In that match, Neymar was denied a penalty after the referee overturned his initial decision using VAR, before Philippe Coutinho finally broke the deadlock in stoppage time. Neymar did finally get on the scoresheet in the seventh minute of added time to wrap up a 2-0 victory.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker, however, came in for criticism back in Brazil after breaking down in tears following the full-time whistle.
Tite, though, backed his player and insisted it would take a collective effort from his side to progress to the last 16.
‘There is an excessive responsibility (on Neymar) in terms of success and that is not the way to go, and the coach is not going to do that,’ he said.
‘Each one of us has our own responsibility. We should not place it all on his shoulders, the whole group will solve it. Maybe we need one more match and he will be in his full form physically and technically, having his full potential, because he is outside the normal standards.’
The Brazil coach also defended Neymar’s tearful outburst, saying: ‘I cried as I was happy and satisfied (when we qualified for the finals) — that is our emotional characteristic. I cried with pride and pleasure in a moment of so much pressure to be able to play a great match.
‘I am showing the other side, of a coach who also has his feelings and understands that reason and emotion have to be balanced and adjusted.’ Brazil head into their final Group E match top of the group on four points, along with Switzerland, who play already eliminated Costa Rica in Nizhny Novgorod. Serbia, with three points, have little margin for error if they are to progress to the last 16. ‘This game is going to be decisive. Our continuity in this tournament depends fundamentally on this match,’ said Tite, who is expected to name an unchanged starting XI, but will be without winger Douglas Costa who is suffering from a thigh problem. Meanwhile, Serbia captain Aleksandar Kolarov believes his side have the chance to grab a famous result. ‘I’m getting towards the end of my career in football and this will be the most important game of it,’ he said. ‘Players know what this is all about. This is a global stage, it’s a once-in-a-career chance to shine. ‘You always want to play the best in the world. You have to test yourself against the best and I am sure we will be prepared for that and will enjoy the moment.’ There was also some fighting talk from Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic. ‘We have no fear of Brazil, but we will have to be patient, disciplined and play as a team,’ he said. ‘We have to satisfy the Serbian nation. ‘We have shown that we have the quality, we have a mix of seasoned players and young lads who will be playing for another ten years for our national team. ‘We have nothing to lose but if we are not ready to give our all, then we will have lost. You may lose, but you must not shirk your responsibility.’