Neymar’s injury can’t detract from Brazil’s roster depth

Neymar may be recovering from injury, but that shouldn’t hurt Brazil as they enter the World Cup with one of the deepest squads at the tournament.

Brazil’s greatest strength as they prepare for the World Cup is in the knowledge that they don’t need to rely on Neymar to win games. It wasn’t always the case. Four years ago, Brazil’s chances at winning the title at home evaporated the moment Neymar got injured.

That trend continued in the aftermath of that humiliating 7-1 defeat to eventual champions Germany, when coach Dunga continued to rely on Neymar. Without him, Brazil were eliminated in the group stage, by Peru no less, at the 2016 Copa America Centenario. As a result, Dunga was sacked.

Enter Tite and his ability to give Neymar more freedom and allow his teammates to take on more responsibility. After a strong qualifying campaign, Brazil are again among the favorites to win it all — Neymar’s recent injury woes notwithstanding.

“I will have enough time to arrive at the World Cup in good shape and prepare,” Neymar said in an interview last month with FIFA.com. “Being injured isn’t good, but I feel rested. We have to look at the positives.”

The 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker underwent an operation on a fractured metatarsal in March. Neymar’s prognosis was that he would be sidelined for three months. He was named to Brazil’s 23-man squad on Monday amid talk that he may leave PSG for Real Madrid come the start of next season. Outgoing PSG coach Unai Emery quashed talk that Neymar will leave for Madrid, but it is still very possible.

Neymar’s supporting cast also deserves lots of attention. With the possible exception of Germany, Brazil have the deepest roster of any side in Russia this summer. The team includes some of the strongest players in Europe at the moment, including goalkeeper Alisson (Roma), defenders Thiago Silva (PSG) and Marcelo, midfielders Fernandinho (Manchester City), Douglas Costa (Juventus) and Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) and strikers Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) and Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).

Under Tite, Brazil play a pragmatic style that features strong defending and great passing as the team builds their attack from the back. It’s a jogo bonito hybrid that takes elements of Brazil’s traditional flashy style with some of the best of the European game. He’s given the Selecao both confidence and swagger, the kind that can lead to a sixth World Cup title after a Neymar-led side won their first-ever gold medal at the Olympics at home in 2016.

In fact, Brazil’s midfield is their biggest strength whether Neymar is in the lineup or not. Tite’s midfield will feature defensive midfielder Casemiro, and Paulinho and Coutinho, who will be flanked by Costa and Chelsea’s Willian in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Brazil, in the end, may suffer more as a result of having to leave talented right-back Dani Alves at home, forced to rule himself out of contention following a serious knee injury.

“The collective empowers the individual,” Tite said last year. “If the ball arrives to Neymar, they mark [him], but the other side is more exposed. Coutinho creates chances … We take Neymar to one side, let him be isolated and make room for another.”

By creating room for other players, Tite has taken the burden off Neymar. It’s that opportunity that would allow the PSG striker to score more goals as well as help others excel.

On the other hand, should injury keep Neymar sidelined, the team will be more than prepared to take on opponents knowing they can compete without one of the world’s best players in the starting lineup.

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Brazil are scheduled to set up camp in London ahead of their friendly with Croatia at Anfield on June 3. After the match, they will return to London and train there through June 8, when they depart for Vienna to play Austria on June 10. Brazil travel to Russia the following day for their World Cup opener on June 17 against Switzerland.

How would Brazil play without Neymar should he not recover or suffer another knock? It would likely mean giving Gabriel Jesus the burden of being the lone striker with wingers Coutinho and Willian aiding the attack. The formation could easily transform into a 4-3-3 with Casemiro moving up from his defensive midfield duties. Coutinho drifting into a more central position is another option, essentially fulfilling the role of playmaker.

“A team has to be prepared for the various situations in the game,” Tite said. “Whether we are winning, losing or drawing, we have to be ready to adapt and not sink into a comfort zone.”