NEW DELHI: A battered and bruised Neymar will intention to get Brazil's World Cup marketing campaign again on the right track on Friday as they seek to re-assert their name credentials with victory over Costa Rica.
ALSO READ: Brazil face any other defensive wall towards Costa Rica
Argentina soccer legend Diego Maradona reckons that Neymar, who returned to the training pitch 48 hours after hobbling out two days earlier, remains a key figure for the five-time champions, and that he must step up if Brazil are to check in their first win of the match. The five-time champions drew 1-1 with Switzerland, where Neymar was once given a difficult ride.
ALSO READ: Neymar fitness cloud lingers as pressure mounts on Brazil
"It is good news for Brazil that Neymar joined training on Wednesday and appeared to have recovered from the knocks suffered in the Switzerland stalemate. I said it before, this lot is not all about its top star and I maintain that. However, they need him now, for there is no room for error hereon," Maradona wrote in his column for Times of India on Friday.
"Brazil face two tough games and anything but a win in the second one against Costa Rica will keep them on tenterhooks. As discussed and seen, smaller teams have devised a formula to play against the big boys. It's basically about heavy marking, crowding their half of the pitch and choking the opposition for space. They move up only on counters. Smaller European teams, which are not title contenders, have become very fond of this and why not."
Anything but victory could leave Brazil, some of the name favourites in Russia, in a difficult place to advance from the group level. Maradona identified that Brazil would require a lot more from their protection. Costa Rica's defensive style, alternatively, surprisingly took them to the quarterfinals in Brazil 2014. Apart from the penalty shootout within the last-eight match towards the Netherlands, Costa Rica had been unbeaten in Brazil.
"Of non-European teams good at this game, Costa Rica is an example, which means there is no respite for Brazil from the kind of test they faced and could not clear in the first match. Quarterfinalists in 2014 mainly due to their defensive doggedness, the Central Americans have lost their first game. They would be keen to salvage their campaign with at least a point and follow the same 5-4-1 strategy to make life difficult for Brazil’s attackers," the previous striker, who scored 34 goals for his nation, added.
"For Brazil, it's not just a matter of scoring. I don't find their defensive organisation convincing enough. Slightly better in this regard against Switzerland, Brazil still conceded an equaliser. To do well in the World Cup, other than a solid defence, you need muscle in the midfield to stop the other team from creating moves. On paper, Brazil's 4-2-3-1 with Casemiro and Paulinho in front of the back four looks good. I don't think they will be under too much pressure against Costa Rica. But they have to be alert nonetheless."
Serbia lead Group E with three points after beating Costa Rica 1-Zero and subsequent performs Switzerland in Kaliningrad on Friday. Serbia and Brazil then meet on Wednesday in Moscow. Brazil has no margin for error towards Costa Rica, which won its crew at the last World Cup and reached the quarterfinals.
"Even a draw would be a psychological blow for my South American neighbours. Since up next, in what would then become a must-win last game, is Serbia, another European team. Brazil have to beat Costa Rica. Jesus, Coutinho, Willian and Neymar, all have to produce their A game," Maradona said.
"They can't afford to miss chances because their opponents will grow in confidence as long as they keep them from scoring. Brazil's talented attacking unit worked well only in patches in the first match and must keep Costa Rica under pressure for longer periods to force errors. If they do that, goals are likely to come."
Four years since struggling the heartbreak of a 1-7 loss to Germany within the semi-final, the Selecao are deemed some of the favourites to win the cup. But it's more uncomplicated said that completed.
"Apart from strategy, skill and luck, determination and hunger will also play a part. The World Cup comes once in four years and demands a kind of focus and intensity that is different from what footballers experience in other competitions. I have seen that the zeal to surmount odds and commitment to a cause can work wonders. Brazil have to shrug off the past and get going. Ensuring qualification is not the only target. They also have to register a first win in a World Cup match after the semifinal nightmare in 2014," the 1986 World Cup winner said.
ALSO READ: Brazil face any other defensive wall towards Costa Rica
Argentina soccer legend Diego Maradona reckons that Neymar, who returned to the training pitch 48 hours after hobbling out two days earlier, remains a key figure for the five-time champions, and that he must step up if Brazil are to check in their first win of the match. The five-time champions drew 1-1 with Switzerland, where Neymar was once given a difficult ride.
ALSO READ: Neymar fitness cloud lingers as pressure mounts on Brazil
"It is good news for Brazil that Neymar joined training on Wednesday and appeared to have recovered from the knocks suffered in the Switzerland stalemate. I said it before, this lot is not all about its top star and I maintain that. However, they need him now, for there is no room for error hereon," Maradona wrote in his column for Times of India on Friday.
"Brazil face two tough games and anything but a win in the second one against Costa Rica will keep them on tenterhooks. As discussed and seen, smaller teams have devised a formula to play against the big boys. It's basically about heavy marking, crowding their half of the pitch and choking the opposition for space. They move up only on counters. Smaller European teams, which are not title contenders, have become very fond of this and why not."
Anything but victory could leave Brazil, some of the name favourites in Russia, in a difficult place to advance from the group level. Maradona identified that Brazil would require a lot more from their protection. Costa Rica's defensive style, alternatively, surprisingly took them to the quarterfinals in Brazil 2014. Apart from the penalty shootout within the last-eight match towards the Netherlands, Costa Rica had been unbeaten in Brazil.
"Of non-European teams good at this game, Costa Rica is an example, which means there is no respite for Brazil from the kind of test they faced and could not clear in the first match. Quarterfinalists in 2014 mainly due to their defensive doggedness, the Central Americans have lost their first game. They would be keen to salvage their campaign with at least a point and follow the same 5-4-1 strategy to make life difficult for Brazil’s attackers," the previous striker, who scored 34 goals for his nation, added.
"For Brazil, it's not just a matter of scoring. I don't find their defensive organisation convincing enough. Slightly better in this regard against Switzerland, Brazil still conceded an equaliser. To do well in the World Cup, other than a solid defence, you need muscle in the midfield to stop the other team from creating moves. On paper, Brazil's 4-2-3-1 with Casemiro and Paulinho in front of the back four looks good. I don't think they will be under too much pressure against Costa Rica. But they have to be alert nonetheless."
Serbia lead Group E with three points after beating Costa Rica 1-Zero and subsequent performs Switzerland in Kaliningrad on Friday. Serbia and Brazil then meet on Wednesday in Moscow. Brazil has no margin for error towards Costa Rica, which won its crew at the last World Cup and reached the quarterfinals.
"Even a draw would be a psychological blow for my South American neighbours. Since up next, in what would then become a must-win last game, is Serbia, another European team. Brazil have to beat Costa Rica. Jesus, Coutinho, Willian and Neymar, all have to produce their A game," Maradona said.
"They can't afford to miss chances because their opponents will grow in confidence as long as they keep them from scoring. Brazil's talented attacking unit worked well only in patches in the first match and must keep Costa Rica under pressure for longer periods to force errors. If they do that, goals are likely to come."
Four years since struggling the heartbreak of a 1-7 loss to Germany within the semi-final, the Selecao are deemed some of the favourites to win the cup. But it's more uncomplicated said that completed.
"Apart from strategy, skill and luck, determination and hunger will also play a part. The World Cup comes once in four years and demands a kind of focus and intensity that is different from what footballers experience in other competitions. I have seen that the zeal to surmount odds and commitment to a cause can work wonders. Brazil have to shrug off the past and get going. Ensuring qualification is not the only target. They also have to register a first win in a World Cup match after the semifinal nightmare in 2014," the 1986 World Cup winner said.
Maradona Exclusive: Brazil need Neymar now more than ever
![Maradona Exclusive: Brazil need Neymar now more than ever]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 22, 2018
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