A page from the diary of Neymar Jr.
Dear Diary,
If you had told me before the World Cup that I would end up in bed with a vertebral fracture even as my teammates continue to sweat it out in the field for what may turn out to be the biggest match of their life, I would not have believed you.
I am not clairvoyant; neither do I ever place my trust on Felipao’s frequent precognition. But the more I think about it, the more my brain ends up concocting malicious conspiracies. My efforts of convincing myself that it was all a part of the game fall through every time Felipao’s prescient declaration of me being ‘hunted’ goes on air.
That the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would be heavily marked was expected, and it did turn out to be so. The thought of ‘hunting down’ a 22-year-old on his debut World Cup had hardly ever occurred to me, let alone considering it with seriousness. Felipao’s persistent words of caution during training had seemed far-fetched and absolutely preposterous.
In spite of everyone’s compassionate wishes of swift recovery, I cannot help feeling responsible for the predicament Brazil has landed itself in. The guilt that troubles me, however, is no comparison to what is haunting Thiago Silva right now. Reflecting upon the yellow card must be unforgiving for him, since he has to survive with the knowledge that it was not only self-destruction but annihilation of Brazil’s chances as well.
The German attack is, by no means, ordinary and the alarming factor is that their bench strength is equally potent and dangerous. Without Thiago, the brunt of the responsibility will fall on David Luiz and Dani Alves. Dante will, possibly, come as a replacement, but I wouldn’t bet my life on him.
It will be difficult, immensely difficult. The likes of Ozil, Muller and Klose, not to mention Hummels and Kroos, construct an inconceivably formidable line-up with Manuel Neuer being the impenetrable wall between the posts. The odds firmly rest in favour of Germany, and Felipao has that unenviable task of negotiating the Deutsche with a drastically frailer team.
Honestly speaking, we have been far from our best with respect to O Jogo Bonito that we so regularly brag about. Hell, we have been nothing but a complete disappointment. How else would you sum up defenders fetching goals and relying on the cross bar to deny the opposition?
Oscar has been on and off since his excellent performance against Croatia, but he still remains the finest playmaker to delve into the No. 10 role in my absence. His expertise in dropping deep in order to address midfield woes and drifting sideways to permit the wingers inside makes him absolutely indispensable.
The vacancy in midfield may earn Willian a much-awaited start in this World Cup. He is conscientious and swift – qualities that are prerequisites if Oscar is to fulfill my duties. Else, Felipao may have to introduce Luiz Gustavo alongside Fernandinho and Paulinho, thereby pushing Oscar to the front line.
Although Hulk has matured from his initial delirium as a lost steatopygic kid suffering from ADHD, Fred’s incessant run-of-the-mill performances remain a worry. His leisurely strolls down the park pretending to be the legend which he isn’t and cannot ever be – now at 30 – represent, to be brutally honest, the apparent dearth of inspiration in this squad.
For all the commitment to the so-called Beautiful Game, we have strived to better our opponents with aggression and unspectacular football. Be it those last-resort challenges inside the penalty box or anxious tackles that speak of desperation – our game has been chiefly driven by ruthlessness and appetite for victory.
The dream of winning the World Cup at home lives on, and so it must, regardless of the agony I often succumb to. Despite all their shortcomings, the entire squad is motivated and unified by a single desire – to emerge as World Champions.
My journey in the World Cup is over, but my nation’s, hopefully, is not. I will return to football to salvage my dream four years hence, but that’s too distant a proposition to bid for now. Fears of defeat stray in my subconscious without concealment as I seek to muster confidence and place unquestioned faith in the abilities of my teammates.
May the force be with them.
Neymar
Disclaimer: This is not an actual entry in his diary, it is just a look at Brazil’s performance and chances from his perspective.