A whole nation holds its breath.

Will Neymar be able to continue the Mondial-2022?

"Have faith": like Neymar himself, Brazil prays that its star, injured in an ankle against Serbia (2-0), will soon be restored to guide the Seleçao, who will have to do without "Ney" on Monday against Switzerland for their second match of the World Cup.

The distress of Neymar, swollen ankle and reddened eyes, came back to haunt Brazilian supporters, traumatized by the injuries of their number 10 which often coincided with major poor performances, such as at the 2014 World Cup at home.

On Thursday evening at the Lusail stadium, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar limped off the pitch after contact with Nikola Milenkovic.

The images of his swollen right malleolus immediately raised fears of the worst in the country of "futebol", despite the convincing inaugural victory.

>> To read also: "World-2022: Brazil succeeds in its entry against Serbia with a double from Richarlison"

Rodrigo Lasmar, doctor for the Brazilian Federation (CBF), confirmed on Friday 25 November that Neymar suffered from a "lateral ligament injury" in the right ankle, while defender Danilo also suffered from a sprained ankle. left ankle.

"We won't have these two players for our next game (against Switzerland), but they are continuing their treatment with the aim of recovering them in time for the rest of the competition," he said in a video. broadcast by the CBF.

Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte meanwhile reported that both players are at risk of not playing again in the first round and could be reinstated in a possible round of 16.

Fracture of a vertebra in 2014

In this context, was it appropriate for Neymar to stay on the pitch for ten more minutes, gritting his teeth, between his injury and his exit in the 79th minute?

"He felt the pain but he decided to stay on the pitch to help his partners, and that's remarkable," defended his coach Tite.

"I didn't see that he was injured, his attitude blew me away, I didn't see anything!"

In Brazil, the "torcedores" (supporters) are beginning to be used to Neymar's name being attached more to medical bulletins than to sporting flashes.

In 2014, his broken vertebra in the quarter-finals of the World Cup at home preceded the incredible humiliation of the Seleçao in the semi-finals against Germany (7-1).

And in 2019, already injured in the same right ankle, "Ney" withdrew from the Copa América, finally won by the Auriverde selection.

Without him, Brazil is of course a less unpredictable team, less unbalancing.

"He's a great player. We know how important he is, we send him positive energy," said Brazilian winger Antony.

The Brazilian camp nevertheless wants to believe that its number 10 can be back during the competition, the final of which is scheduled for December 18 in the same stadium in Lusail, where the Seleçao dreams of winning its sixth star.

"We trust"

"We have confidence, Neymar will play again in this World Cup", launched Thursday evening Tite, in a firm tone.

Neymar himself has expressed his determination to return as soon as possible, posting a photo on Instagram which reads the phrase "have faith".

But the schedule is tight: the Brazilians, at the top of group G after their victory, will find Switzerland without him on Monday (5 p.m., Paris time), before facing Cameroon next Friday in their final group match.

Doing without "Ney", Brazil got used to it, over the injuries of its star, and its center forward Richarlison arises at the spearhead of an attack where the fast wingers Vinicius and Raphinha can also do damage .

"The 'Professor' Tite said to me: 'You have a flair for goals'!", Savored Thursday evening Richarlison, double scorer including an acrobatic return of anthology.

"We have to keep scoring, I want to take advantage of the presence of my partners. At the break, I said to them: 'I need only one ball'. This ball arrived and ended up in the back.

What to compensate for the absence of Neymar?

With AFP

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