Casemiro offers relief as Brazil show Neymardepencia symptoms

Brazil did enough to get through their group one game less by beating Switzerland, but it wasn't their most sparkling performance…

For Brazil, this second group game became an unexpected and unwelcome test of an idea that had been animating the Brazilian media for the past few months: that Neymardepencia might be on the decline. It is the name given to the belief that the Brazil national team had become too dependent on this particular player, which was most striking before the 2014 World Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte, when an injury created an atmosphere around the stadium. which sometimes felt a bit like a wake, especially when the team brought a jersey with their name and number on it. And we all know what happened next.

Having injured ankle ligaments in their win against Serbia, Brazil have been a little timid when they return. It is widely believed that he would miss their two remaining group matches, but could that extend to the knockout stages of the competition as well? And how could this affect the confidence of the Brazil team?

Neymardepencia's worst excesses were considered to have dissipated as a new generation of brilliant Brazilian forwards emerged. There was no need for Brazil to feel obligated to depend on the magic moments of this particular player. Maybe the pressure that was being put on that particular player was causing more harm to the application of pressure on that pair of shoulders than he could ever fix, and that getting players of the caliber of Casemiro through, Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha and Richarlison reduced this burden of expectations.

And it's true, Brazil certainly showed against Serbia that they don't have to depend on their goals. At the same time as Neymar was substituted in this game, Richarlison was also taken off, but his situation was somewhat different. First, he wasn't injured, and second, he had scored both goals in what turned out to be a 2-0 victory, the second of which could well become a strong contender for the tournament goal. While Neymar may have been worrying about whether he would ever feature in this tournament again, Richarlison could relax in the warm glow of a job very well done.

But in what direction is it going? How far are Brazil after Neymardepencia? In 1962, when Pelé got injured, Garrincha stepped in and made this tournament his own. So, is Brazil heading in that direction, or is it heading in the same direction as the Class of 2014? Switzerland was Brazil's first post-Neymar test at this World Cup, and they weren't to be taken lightly. And Brazil should have known that. Both teams were drawn in the last World Cup final in 2018 and drew 1-1.

Switzerland have been on a roller coaster in form since the return of international football after the first confinements in September 2020. They have not won any of their first seven games, but then have only two defeats, including a penalty kick kicks off Spain at Euro 2020 - in their next 18 games until the end of last year.

And 2022 has only reflected this trend in miniature. Switzerland started the year winning none of their first five games - losing four of them - but they arrived for this match having won four of their last five, including victories against Spain and Portugal, as well as their opening match. of this tournament against Cameroon.

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