Brazil vs Switzerland in Group G of the 2022 World Cup, this is the scenario without Neymar and Danilo that the Samba team could do

Posted On: November 28, 2022

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Brazil v Switzerland will be the second game of Group G World Cup 2022. This fight will take place at Stadium 974 – Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar on Monday, November 28, starting at 11:00 PM WIB.

The Brazilian national team will be without two key players, Neymar and Danilo, following the injuries they suffered in the 2-0 win over Serbia last Thursday. Both suffered ankle problems and the team’s medical team has confirmed they will miss the game against Switzerland.

“Neymar and Danilo were re-evaluated today and, having passed a physical evaluation, we believe it is important for them to have an MRI,” Brazilian national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said on Friday. the official FIFA website. November 25, 2022.

“The scan showed an injury to the lateral ligament of Neymar’s right ankle, with swelling of the small bones, and an injury to the medial ligament of Danilo’s left ankle.”

“But they are still undergoing treatment, with the aim of being able to return in time to resume this competition.”

The match will be a duel for the top of the ranking. Brazil and Switzerland currently have three points. In their first game, Switzerland beat Cameroon 1-0.

The winner of the match will have the opportunity to qualify for the round of 16. The condition is that, in the other matches, Cameroon and Serbia, who both did not win points, only play a draw.

Brazilian player Neymar tries to get past Serbian players during the Group G match between Brazil and Serbia at Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar November 24, 2022. REUTERS/Molly Darlington

The reaction that emerged with Neymar’s injury

Richarlison, a young Brazilian talent, scored twice to lead his side to their first Qatar World Cup win by beating Serbia 2-0.

Even though the team that brought more strikers, his side were never in danger of conceding a goal against Serbia in this game. This certainly pleased Coach Tite.

However, the injuries suffered by Neymar and Danilo dealt a blow to his team. Both key players have the potential to be out until the final game of the group stage.

Neymar has a history of bad luck in the World Cup. He was forced out of the team due to injury during a tournament in his home country in 2014 and four years later is back after a long injury. Meanwhile, Danilo was knocked out in the 2018 Russia tournament.

Brazilian player Richarlison scores the second goal in the Group G match between Brazil and Serbia at Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar November 24, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

Injuries to two players were the culmination of a minor squad controversy announced by Tite in early November. Striker Roberto Firmino was left out, while veteran right-back Dani Alves was brought to Qatar.

Brazil have a lot of quality wingers. However, Tite’s choice fell on Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli who has performed brilliantly this season. It was Firmino who actually came the closest to replacing Neymar as a false 9, opening up space and crossing for the winger, but he wasn’t engaged.

Some people think Brazil would be better off without Neymar, referring to the country’s success in winning the 2019 Copa America without the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star.

This argument is certainly not justified. Wingers and centre-forwards rarely win games alone. The likes of Richarlison and Vinicius Junior, benefit greatly from the creativity of Neymar, who is still Brazil’s prodigious attacking talent.

However, some people in Brazil even celebrate his injury. Neymar has always been seen as a divisive figure, especially the PSG player’s involvement in politics, as to his support for incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the presidential election in his country who ended up losing, was seen as bad.

Neymar had promised to dedicate his first goal in Qatar to Bolsonaro, considered reckless because he had made the team a political vehicle. This caused the majority of its citizens to oppose it. On the other hand, some see Richarlison as a new hero, both for the sake of goals and social awareness.

Apart from this political situation, Neymar is unlikely to be able to strengthen Brazil in the next match of the 2022 World Cup, of course weakening Tite’s squad strength.

Without Neymar and Firmino in the squad, Brazil will have to struggle for at least the next two matches in the group stage. Brazil’s young forwards will be tasked with more responsibility, with the coaching staff having great faith in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo who is seen as the national team’s future.

Scenario without Neymar

Brazilian national team always intended to use an ultra-attacking formation when playing for Serbia and reverted to something more orthodox against Switzerland. They see Switzerland as a more balanced team, with defensive solidarity and attacking speed. So the plan is for Fred to return to midfield with Lucas Paqueta moving further up the pitch.

Someone had to leave, but it was a very difficult choice. As before the 2-0 win over Serbia, that candidate is Vinicius Jr. However, it’s impossible to write him off after his performance last Thursday.

That way, Paqueta could easily step into Neymar’s place, allowing Brazil to retain two players and a centre-forward.

Fred’s presence is essential as a replacement for Danilo, another specialist right-back being Dani Alves. At 39, Alves needs Fred’s lung power.

Dani Alves looks set to become the oldest Brazilian to feature in the 2022 World Cup. That record previously belonged to Djalma Santos, who played in the 1966 World Cup aged 37. Dani Alves has appeared in three World Cups but was not in the Selecao squad for the 2018 edition due to injury. Instagram/danialves

Coach Tite has traumatic memories of Brazil’s quarter-final elimination four years ago when they lost to Belgium. At that time, the left side of the Samba Team consisted of Marcelo, Philippe Coutinho and Neymar. Neither did much in defense and there the Belgians looked to attack. Right wingers from Alves, Paqueta and Raphinha looked equally vulnerable.

Another alternative is to play Eder Militao as a right-back like in Brazil’s friendly against Ghana last September. The match was more than expected result, namely a 3-0 victory.

However, if such a decision is made, Tite will be criticized why he called Alves if he is not used when the first-choice right-back is injured. This option risks making Firmino’s absence even more striking.

Winning the World Cup is certainly not just passing the group stage. However, Brazil’s success in picking up the first three points in Qatar’s 2022 World Cup opener has given them some breathing room as they adjust to Neymar’s absence in the hope that the star man will soon be back in the team.

ESPN, FIFA