Neymar unsure what comes next for Brazil after World Cup heartbreak
Neymar wants to take time to 'mourn' Brazil's exit from the World Cup as he hails the youngsters of the squad for their involvement in Seleçao's penalty shoot-out loss to Croatia.
Pre-tournament favorites Brazil walk away after losing 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with the 2018 finalists at Education City Stadium.
Neymar opened the scoring with a magnificent goal midway through extra time on Friday, a strike that put him level with the great Pelé on 77 goals for Brazil.
Yet Bruno Petkovic scored with four minutes left as Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed to convert their penalties as Brazil bid for a sixth world title.
Neymar didn't take a free kick, although he might have been in line to take Brazil's fifth if he had gone that far.
He had nothing but praise for the teammates who stepped up, as the 30-year-old admitted he was unsure what's next for Brazil, who will have a new coach after Tite confirmed that his mandate had come to an end.
"The feeling is really bad. It's worse today than what happened in the past," Neymar said.
"Unfortunately, it's hard to find words to describe this moment. We tried, we fought and I'm proud of all my teammates.
"I am proud of their personality, of having taken the penalty, of their character, because it is not easy to take on this responsibility.
"Rodrygo is a very young boy and whenever they came in and played, I always said to them, 'This responsibility is mine, I'm the eldest, you have to play football.'
"But he's so irrelevant, he's an ace, and he wanted to take responsibility for the penalty. You can only miss if you kick. Unfortunately, the ball didn't go in.
"Not only him, but we will all learn from this. I don't know what will happen from now on in the Brazilian team, but now it's time to mourn."
Neymar was in tears full time, and had to be consoled by his teammates on the pitch.
Richarlison, meanwhile, wept as he spoke to reporters well over an hour after the final whistle.
"I think we got almost everything right," Richarlison said. "Unfortunately, we will not top off the great work we have built. Now is the time to suffer a little.
“I must apologize to our family members and fans who believed in us until the end. Now is the time to go to the bedroom and cry because we are human beings , we are flesh and blood. We have suffered a very painful defeat.”
Neymar wants to take time to 'mourn' Brazil's exit from the World Cup as he hails the youngsters of the squad for their involvement in Seleçao's penalty shoot-out loss to Croatia.
Pre-tournament favorites Brazil walk away after losing 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with the 2018 finalists at Education City Stadium.
Neymar opened the scoring with a magnificent goal midway through extra time on Friday, a strike that put him level with the great Pelé on 77 goals for Brazil.
Yet Bruno Petkovic scored with four minutes left as Rodrygo and Marquinhos failed to convert their penalties as Brazil bid for a sixth world title.
Neymar didn't take a free kick, although he might have been in line to take Brazil's fifth if he had gone that far.
He had nothing but praise for the teammates who stepped up, as the 30-year-old admitted he was unsure what's next for Brazil, who will have a new coach after Tite confirmed that his mandate had come to an end.
"The feeling is really bad. It's worse today than what happened in the past," Neymar said.
"Unfortunately, it's hard to find words to describe this moment. We tried, we fought and I'm proud of all my teammates.
"I am proud of their personality, of having taken the penalty, of their character, because it is not easy to take on this responsibility.
"Rodrygo is a very young boy and whenever they came in and played, I always said to them, 'This responsibility is mine, I'm the eldest, you have to play football.'
"But he's so irrelevant, he's an ace, and he wanted to take responsibility for the penalty. You can only miss if you kick. Unfortunately, the ball didn't go in.
"Not only him, but we will all learn from this. I don't know what will happen from now on in the Brazilian team, but now it's time to mourn."
Neymar was in tears full time, and had to be consoled by his teammates on the pitch.
Richarlison, meanwhile, wept as he spoke to reporters well over an hour after the final whistle.
"I think we got almost everything right," Richarlison said. "Unfortunately, we will not top off the great work we have built. Now is the time to suffer a little.
“I must apologize to our family members and fans who believed in us until the end. Now is the time to go to the bedroom and cry because we are human beings , we are flesh and blood. We have suffered a very painful defeat.”
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