Seleção is threatened with exclusion Neymar celebrates and Brazil is on the brink
January 4, 2024, 2:07 p.m
Lionel Messi became world champion, Cristiano Ronaldo was European champion, Neymar’s career in the national team appears to have ended without any significant titles. Brazilian football is in a serious crisis. And for many, his symbol is Neymar.
Neymar does what there is no reason for in the Brazilian association and especially in the once-glorious national team: he simply celebrates and is happy. The superstar doesn’t let his good mood be taken away from him; the injured captain of the Seleção counters criticism of his excessive lifestyle with his latest cruise campaign boldly and, for many, cheekily with a lot of ridicule. “My condolences to those who weren’t there,” he wrote on Instagram.
Some people would find sympathy for the downfall of the national team and the association more appropriate. “The year was marked by chaos behind the scenes, changes in power, standoffs with other organizations and, as if all that wasn’t enough, embarrassing results in football,” the Brazilian sports newspaper “Lance” recently wrote. The national team collected negative records and broke negative taboos.
The UOL portal described the Seleção as “survivors”: “Because of its history, the great talents of the country and the passion of the people for the sport. But the truth is, if it had been up to the association alone, it would have already died.”
Whether with or without Neymar. Whether with or without the highly gifted footballer, who, in contrast to Lionel Messi (World Champion with Argentina in 2022) or Cristiano Ronaldo (European Champion with Portugal in 2016), repeatedly failed at major tournaments. Olympic champion 2016, that’s all it was. The “Kicker” recently called Neymar a “wasted phenomenon” who had gone from being a national hero to a tragic figure.
FIFA considers suspension
He will continue to miss the upcoming Copa América due to his torn cruciate ligament and meniscus. And whether Brazil makes it to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico will – as of now – at least work thanks to the expanded field of participants from 32 to 48 teams. The five-time world champion, who has the right to reach the World Cup finals as number one in South America, is currently only an embarrassing sixth. But things could still get really tight for another reason.
The focus here is not Neymar, but Ednaldo Rodrigues. In July 2023, when Fernando Diniz was announced as interim coach, he announced that Carlo Ancelotti would replace him next summer and take over the national team. Rodrigues was removed from office at the beginning of December last year – by a court in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The 69-year-old is accused of irregularities in his election. The court decision in turn has brought FIFA into action; the world association can punish interference by state bodies in the affairs of its national member associations with a suspension.
Ancelotti’s cancellation causes ridicule
And it doesn’t happen that rarely. In 2019, Nigeria was hit after the association president, among others, was arrested there. In 2018, Sierra Leone was suspended after the association’s leadership was removed from power by politicians. In 2017, the Pakistan association was suspended because the association’s offices and accounts were under the control of a court-appointed administrator. All just a small selection from the past few years.
Officials from FIFA and the continental association Conmebol have already announced their presence in Brazil. You want to check the situation on site. According to the court, new elections should be organized, but this also constitutes interference in the association’s affairs, which FIFA can sanction.
The question is: which coach will want to take over the Brazilian national team in such a situation? The newspaper “O Globo” was already happy to list reactions from the internet that showered the association with scorn and ridicule after Ancelotti’s contract extension with Real Madrid was announced. “Congratulations CBF,” it said, among other things.
Another possible candidate, the Portuguese José Mourinho from AS Roma, has already stated as a precaution that he wants to concentrate on his club: “I told my agent that until we know whether I’m staying, “I shouldn’t talk to anyone or tell me anything about possible contacts,” he said.
Diniz’s record, who is also the coach of Fluminense Rio de Janeiro, could hardly be poorer. Of the six games in the World Cup qualification, three were lost in a row. The low point: The 0-1 loss in the legendary Maracanã against world champion arch-rivals Argentina. The team only won two wins under Diniz. Only Neymar finds reason to celebrate at the moment.
2024-01-04 22:37:58
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