Brazil Show World Cup Credentials Even Without Neymar For Now

Brazil remain favorite to win the 2022 World Cup, and their performances, or at least their results, in the group stage have shown why.

They were one of only three teams—along with France and Portugal—to qualify for the knockout stages with a group game to spare.

Brazil, coached by Tite since 2016, were the last non-European team to win the World Cup when they did so in Japan in 2002. That triumph also game them a record five World Cup trophies, having won their first in 1958. They are now aiming to make it six.

This current Brazil team were among the favorites in Qatar thanks to their mix of youth and experience, exciting attackers and wily defenders, and the two best goalkeepers in the world in Ederson of Manchester City and the No.1 so far, Alisson of Liverpool.

Their star man, Neymar, is often criticised but when on his game he undoubtedly brings a touch of class and attacking prowess that few in the world can match.

There was a glimpse at how Brazil might cope without Neymar after he picked up an ankle injury in the first game against Serbia, which will keep him out at least until the first knockout game.

“We can’t stop talking about Neymar, it’s just how important he is to us,” Brazil’s defensive midfielder Casemiro said ahead of the team’s second group game against Switzerland.

“He’s our biggest player, the difference for us, but we have a lot of other very good players too. Rodrygo, for example, lights up the eyes and delights everyone who sees him play.”

The game against Serbia was eventually won in the second half thanks to two goals from Richarlison. The Tottenhamn Hotspur forward has sometimes played in wide positions for his current club, and his previous club, Everton, but Tite has had him playing as a centre-forward for Brazil, and it paid off in that first game.

The Neymar-less second was a more stodgy affair against the Swiss. Brazil dominated the game but struggled to find a break through, perhaps lacking Neymar’s dribbling skill and unpredictability.

But they do have plenty of other players looking to take Neymar’s place. One of them, Vinícius Júnior, thought he’d scored his first World Cup goal, only to see it ruled out for an offside earlier in the move.

The goal eventually came from Casemiro, and showed that if a team has world class players across the park, sometimes a moment from one of these players is enough even if the team performance is not entirely convincing.

“Obviously Neymar has a different skill-set,” Tite said after the 1-0 win. “He is a player who in a magical moment can dribble past you and all of a sudden, you say, ‘What happened here?’. He has that skill.

“Other players are getting there—to the level he is at—and I hope they do get there. Yes, we do miss Neymar. We do miss him. He has a big creative power, he’s very effective so we miss him, yes.

“But there are other players who can take their opportunity.”

There are other forwards on the bench who could fill in for Neymar in the final group game against Cameroon.

With qualification for the knockout stages already assured, it could be a good time for Tite to test Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior’s equally exciting young teammate at Real Madrid.

Arsenal pair, striker Gabriel Jesus and winger Gabriel Martinelli, will also be hoping for a chance to show what they can do having only made appearances from the bench so far.

Brazil remain favorite to win the World Cup despite Neymar’s absence, in part because the main man is expected to be back for the knockout stages.

But, regardless, Tite will have some rearranging to do before that time, beginning with the game against Cameroon when they’ll be looking to consolidate top spot in the group by making it three wins from three.