FIn Brazil, soccer is a national issue and so is Neymar’s presence at the next World Cup. Most of the current debate surrounding Seleo revolves around the detrimental decision that Ancelotti will soon have to make. It’s as if the presence of one of the great idols of recent years is the magic formula that will solve all the problems of the national team, which has gone 24 years without a No. 6 star sewn onto its uniform.
The pressure increases as the crucial moment approaches, and is further exacerbated by the players themselves desperately trying to get ready in time. And every time he is asked about it – almost every day – the Italian director’s expression becomes more and more determined. Of course, the fans are on Neymar’s side and are taking every opportunity to show their support for their idol by chanting for the former Real Madrid manager. There is no doubt that the noise will get even louder in the coming days, especially after losing against France despite having a numerical advantage for most of the second half. This is a soundtrack that Ancelotti will have to listen to without closing his eyes for months on end.
Asked about the chants, Ancelotti said: “You should talk about the people who were here, the people who played, the people who gave everything, the people who stepped up and worked hard.”
The problem is that Brazil’s locker room largely agrees with the fans – and the players say so openly when they step into the microphone. The ‘old’ unspoken loyalty of respect for legends among footballers has become Neymar’s strongest weapon in his campaign to join the national team. No one is pointing fingers at who should give way, but there is a sense that some are even giving up their positions. Whatever the reason they choose – football, emotional or even mystical – Neymar has to be there.
That is exactly the question raised by former Brazil captain and national team coach Dunga. Dunga is a respected voice in understanding how star players operate. “To go to the World Cup, you have to perform at least 80%. Technically he is a great player. He will not accept to sit on the bench. He is competitive, likes to win and wants to play. If Neymar goes to the World Cup, he has to play. It is very difficult to leave such a talented player on the bench,” he said.
That dilemma now lies with Ancelotti. Ancelotti dreamed of going down in history as the manager who led Brazil to their sixth World Cup, but now he is fighting to be remembered as the manager who refused to take Neymar to their final World Cup. If things go wrong this summer, the absence of a fallen star could be the biggest nail in Italy’s coffin in terms of justifying failure.
For Brazil, only winning is acceptable. That’s why they hired the most Champions League winning manager in football history. What they didn’t tell him was that it had to be done with Neymar.
No matter what.
