Top 5 lessons from Copa America 2015 so far
With the first round of matches now over and the quarter-final stage almost upon us, it’s time to take a look back at the big talking points from Copa America 2015 so far. A lot was said in the build-up to this tournament as some of the word’s best footballers made their way to the Land of Poets, but only some have delivered on their potential, while others have been left spluttering in the wake of some fine displays. The competition certainly hasn’t been without its share of drama and theatre; there have been contentious issues aplenty to choose from. But thankfully, the football on show has been top-class too. The favourites, Argentina, still remain very much in contention to be the best, as do Brazil. Meanwhile, the hosts have sparkled brilliantly amidst a series of potentially distracting sideshows.So without further ado, let's glance back over the last two weeks of football and pick out the main lessons learned so far.
#5 Childish Neymar needs to rein it in
With the confirmation that Brazil have opted not to appeal Neymar’s four-match ban, it’s imperative that the healing process begins in earnest. Truthfully, it is hard to see how even the Barcelona star’s most loyal of fans could come up with an argument strong enough to convincingly defend his actions.
As detailed by the Mirror, Neymar's tirade of abuse towards the referee during Brazil's disappointing loss against Colombia, as well as his confrontation with Juan Zuniga and Jeison Murillo, made for a terrible sight to behold on the field of play. The Champions League winner was lucky to even get away with the ban he received – it could have been much, much worse.
Showcasing childish behaviour is not something that should be associated with the beautiful game and it is vital it is stamped out, particularly in someone so well-known and popular as Neymar. Of course, all of this comes just weeks after his fracas with Athletico Bilbao players during their victorious Copa del Rey final, when he went to ground after some unnecessary show-boating near the end-line.
At just 23 years of age, it’s likely this is just a phase for the insanely talented striker. But it’s crucial that the powers that be behind the Brazil national team let him know that this is unacceptable behaviour before it spirals out of control.