World Cup 2022: Neymar, king in Qatar?
Neymar during the friendly match against Tunisia, September 27, 2022. © AFP - ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 mins
Brazil will be one of the big favorites for the 2022 World Cup. The Auriverde selection will be able to count on the star Neymar.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker is in great shape.
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The 2022 World Cup comes at the right time for Neymar, 30, who could hang a first star on his list, the sixth of the Seleçao after 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Brazil remains to this day the only nation in the history of football to have participated in all editions of the World Cup since 1930.
Breaking “King” Pelé’s national goalscoring record
Neymar will be the leader of a generation in search of a title that outrageously eluded them at home in 2014, after a humiliating semi-final elimination against Germany in a 7-1 defeat, which still remains etched in the memory. memoirs.
The national hero had not played after his injury, hitting a vertebra in the quarter-finals against Colombia.
A national drama at the time, which was looping on Brazilian television.
Released on a stretcher at the very end of the match, the PSG player could not hold back his tears.
Four years later, in Russia, Brazil said goodbye to the World Cup in the quarter-final against Belgium (2-1).
Neymar should be thirsty for revenge by showing that his status as an exceptional player is not a mirage.
Brilliant in the selection during the last meetings, "Ney" also had a very good first part of the season with
PSG
.
Qualifying for Qatar looked like a health journey for the former Barça player, with 8 goals in 10 games.
He currently totals 74 goals with the selection and is fast approaching the record held by "King" Pelé with his 77 achievements.
A mark that could be reached from the group stage, when Brazil will be the scarecrow, alongside Cameroon, Switzerland and Serbia, their first opponent on November 24.
Great prep work
The Brazilian genius, sharp as rarely, knows that Qatar remains one of the last cartridges for obtaining the supreme title, he who has often disappointed in recent years.
For coach Tite, his excellent performances must be attributed to the work carried out with his physical trainer Ricardo Rosa, sparing him the injuries he has often faced since his arrival in Paris in 2017. “
With Neymar in good shape, we have very good chances of winning the World Cup, because he is a player who makes the difference on the pitch
," Cafu, double world champion in 1994 and 2002, told AFP.
In Qatar,
Neymar
will want to forget this bad image that sticks to his skin, like chewing gum under his shoe, with among other things: allegations of sexual violence, and legal proceedings.
The latest concerns his transfer to Barcelona in 2013 and the suspicions of irregularities surrounding him.
The trial finally ended after the about-face of the prosecution who decided to withdraw his charges.
For a world-class player like Neymar, his international record remains meager with a Confederations Cup in 2013 and Olympic gold in 2016, at home.
Not enough for the moment to make Brazilian fans jump in the air.
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