Mercilessly cast as “greedy” and “missing” for failing to fire Brazil to victory in their Olympic opener against South Africa, Neymar and his highly touted teammates need a big response against Iraq today.
A 0-0 draw against a South Africa side reduced to 10 men for the final half hour on Thursday was met with a chorus of boos by a near 70,000 capacity crowd in Brasilia.
Brazil were expected to launch the Games in style as red-hot favorites to land a first Olympic soccer gold thanks to the presence of Barcelona superstar Neymar.
Photo: EPA
However, he suffered the most severe backlash in the Brazilian press on Friday after losing possession 27 times, more than double any other Brazil player.
“Greedy Neymar becomes a problem in the Olympic team,” ESPN Brazil said.
“Inexplicably, Brazil did everything contrary to what they rehearsed and preached for 17 days [in preparation],” Rio de Janeiro’s O Globo newspaper said. “Neymar was missing, too.”
Photo: AP
However, Neymar, who still had Brazil’s two best efforts brilliantly saved by South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, defended his decision to act as more of a playmaker, comparing his role to that occupied by five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
“Sometimes you end up playing according to a certain player. It’s like how Barcelona play. We play according to Messi, he is the guy who plays more on the ball and we end up moving off the ball,” Neymar said.
“It’s why we don’t get bothered by touching the ball into Messi, that’s what many people do not understand,” he added.
Brazil coach Rogerio Micale defended his star and captain, citing rustiness, as Neymar had not been involved in competitive action since May 22 after skipping the Copa America Centenario in June.
“I think we have to see he is coming off a long holiday period and is regaining the pace of play,” Micale said.
“He will grow a lot during the competition, I have great confidence in him,” Micale added.
Neymar did not face the ire of the Brazilian media alone.
Manchester City’s new £27 million (US$35.3 million) signing Gabriel Jesus somehow managed to hit the post when presented with an open goal.
“I will not sleep tonight,” the 19-year-old said.
Another slip up against Iraq back in Brasilia is unimaginable for the hosts, but they are to face well-prepared and highly motivated opponents who enjoyed the better of their opening 0-0 draw with Denmark.
In contrast with Brazil’s short preparation time, Iraq have been in training camps across Europe for months in the buildup to the Games with the aim of surpassing their run to fourth at the Athens Games in 2004, when they beat a Portugal side containing Cristiano Ronaldo.
“For us, it is an honor to be here,” Iraq coach Abdulghani Alghazali said.
“In Brazil, we have earned the sympathy of the local people. Our next game, against them, will be very important for us,” he added.
Brazil are not the only big nation in need of quick turnaround in fortunes today.
Two-time gold medalists Argentina face Algeria after sustaining a 2-0 opening defeat against Portugal.
Defending champions Mexico opened with a 2-2 draw against Germany, but are expected to pile more misery on Fiji, who lost 8-0 to South Korea on Thursday.
Germany face South Korea in Salvador.
Nigeria’s Oghenekaro Etebo was the star of the opening round with four goals in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Japan as the African side shrugged off the jetlag with ease having arrived in the Amazonian city of Manaus, nearly 3,000km from Rio, just hours before kickoff.
Another win for the gold medal winners 20 years ago in Atlanta against Sweden will seal their place in the last eight.
Japan look to bounce back against Colombia, Denmark meet South Africa with both in search of their first win, while Honduras and Portugal face off, with both well-placed after opening wins.
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