After another victory for the Brazilian team, fans in Rio de Janeiro were confident in the sixth. There is, however, a concern with the absence of the team’s main star following the competition. Neymar, who was left out of today’s match (28th) against Switzerland, is also already a definite absence in the next clash against Cameroon, on Friday (2nd). His return in the round of 16 is still uncertain.
Even before the ball rolled, fans who had already arrived to follow the match on the screens installed at the FIFA Fan Fest in Copacabana were showing optimism. Student Enzo Tarcitano was betting on an elastic score of 3-0 and saw the team prepared to deal with the absence of Neymar. “Of course it worries, but we have a team to be champions even so”, he said.
Work safety technician Leidiane Rocha also believed that Brazil would score three times, albeit with a goal from the Swiss, which would give the final result of 3-1. She, however, expects a brief return from Neymar. “Brazil without him is not the same team”.
In the midst of torrential rain over the Rio de Janeiro capital still in the middle of the first half, confidence was giving way to anxiety. But when Casemiro swelled the nets in the 38th minute of the second half, the screams of goal from those who resisted soaking wet on Copacabana beach joined those of the fans who kept themselves dry in bars and family gatherings across the city.
After the final whistle, even though the meager score of 1-0 may have frustrated the expectations of the most optimistic, psychologist Felipe Lyra listed the positive points of the match. The mood at home, where he gathered friends to watch the game, also moved between anxiety and relief.
“It wasn’t easy. More difficult than the debut against Serbia. We faced a close opponent. But Brazil controlled well, suffered little in defense once again. And in the end they managed to score, which was what mattered most”, said.
Satisfied and confident, Felipe remembers that Brazil joined France as the only two teams to add 6 points in the first two games and is on the way to being first in Group G. “Difficulties are part of a World Cup. And Neymar’s absence is a problem, of course. Let’s hope he can return to the round of 16”, he pondered.
If the player’s return is not confirmed, the fans hope that Brazil will have a different formation than the one that started today’s match. He praised the performances of Bruno Guimarães and Rodrygo who entered the second half. “Let’s see if Tite dares to make a more offensive lineup if Neymar doesn’t come back”.
University professor Roberto de Moraes, in turn, was more suspicious of the team’s performance. He assesses that Tite did not make the best choice to make up for Neymar’s absence.
“I thought the team had no creations, stopped, with a goal in a fortuitous move. Tite changed badly, filled the team with attackers, with no one in the middle to think and create moves. And the player with enough intelligence to effectively overcome the absence of the Neymar, Everton Ribeiro, seems to have gone to Qatar just for a walk. Let’s see how it will be in the next games, but the way it was today, better hope for the speedy recovery of Neymar’s ankle”.
