BELO HORIZONTE // Brazil are without their most influential player, but they are not without belief going into Tuesday's World Cup semi-final with Germany.
Such is the significance surrounding Neymar’s fractured vertebra, the striker’s injury has led the Brazilian news for the past three days – the agenda evolving from news reporting, to calling for retrospective punishment, to hoping he could return for a potential final, to eventual acceptance.
On Monday, Juan Zuniga, the Colombian cast as villain for Neymar's absence, escaped retrospective punishment, but of more immediate concern to Brazilians was Fifa's rejection of the team's appeal to have Thiago Silva's one-match suspension overturned.
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The consequence is that Dante, the Bayern Munich defender, will step up to fill in for their suspended captain at centre-back.
That much is certain. What is not known is who has the task of filling the boots of Brazil’s boy wonder.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been training with Willian against Bernard, but there is also a sense in suspecting Ramires could be given the task. A leggy midfielder with an eye for goal, the Chelsea player would not be the obvious choice, but against an athletic German side he could be seen as a more robust option.
“All those who are here have ability and are capable of coming in and doing a good job,” said Bernard, of Shakhtar Donetsk. “Nobody expected we could come to a situation like this, without Neymar, but there is still time. We will be able to adjust and find the best way to cope with the situation.”
Bernard, who is from Belo Horizonte, has rarely featured in the World Cup so far, but he was a part of Scolari’s squad that won the Confederations Cup last summer and impressed in a victory over Uruguay during that tournament.
Scolari is a coach known for trusting absolutely in players who he has relied on in the past.
“It is a World Cup semi-final; a special moment,” Bernard said. “But if I am not chosen, we will have to agree with the coach.”
Willian, in contrast, was a late call-up, yet he has played in three of Brazil’s five matches, coming off the bench each time.
With his pace and penchant for step-overs, he is the more obvious replacement, even if he rejects the comparison.
“Neymar sets the standard,” Willian said. “He is capable of deciding any game, so playing without him will be difficult. You can’t compare him with other players.
“I have a different style, even if we have some similarities, like my pace. Neymar is a forward, while I am more of a midfielder, someone who creates chances for others.”
On Tuesday, the talk of Neymar should subside. Brazil is hoping a new hero can be born.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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