Neymar a ‘Foul’ Actor, Say Mexico Ahead of FIFA World Cup Knockout Clash
Brazil football team's Neymar was fouled 17 times during the group-stage matches at the FIFA World Cup, more than any other player in the tournament (Pic: IANS).
Neymar has stuttered through the FIFA World Cup so far. Statistics after the end of the group stages reveal that the Brazil star was fouled more than any other player in the three group games that each team has played so far. He has been at the receiving end of ungainly tackles a whopping 17 times. But the instances of the 26-year-old rolling on the ground, crying injustice, are almost twice that number.
Neymar’s worst, and most trolled, act came during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica, when he went down in the box in what appeared to be a foul by Giancarlo Gonzalez. The referee, after awarding a penalty, overturned the decision following a consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
In the knockouts now, Brazil’s opponents Mexico (match on June 2) are wary of not just Neymar’s potential threat with the ball, but also his tendency to “exaggerate fouls”.
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Mexico captain Andres Guardado, has said that FIFA and the match referees should be aware of Brazilian star potential for theatrics. “We all know Neymar. It's not up to me or us to judge, but the referees and FIFA," Guardado said. “Now they have VAR, they have to watch his style of play and the referee needs to be on top of it because we know he likes to exaggerate fouls, he likes to drop to the floor a lot. I repeat, it is his style of play and those who have to judge and in a way put an end to it are the officials, not us.”
The Brazilians, meanwhile, have been worried about the health of their star, complaining that the officials don't do enough to protect Neymar, whose has the quality to open any defence in the world.
Mexico have never won against Brazil at the World Cup. The match in Samara will be the fifth time Brazil and Mexico cross paths at the World Cup. Brazil have won three of the previous encounters while one has resulted in a draw. Guardado said that they were not intimidated by their illustrious opponents or by history.
“We’d never beaten Germany in a World Cup either, and we did it in this one,” said Guardado. “We're here to make history and it is in our hands. We'll do everything possible because we all know that statistics don't play when the game starts.”
Marcelo likely to be fit
Defender Marcelo is expected to return after overcoming a back problem, a definite boost for Brazil ahead of their pre-quarterfinal game against Mexico.
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The left-back, who plays for Real Madrid, went off the field in the 10th minute of Brazil’s final group match, a 2-0 victory over Serbia, after suffering a back spasm.
Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said the 30-year-old is making encouraging progress. “We are going to observe him a little more to see how he is in the next 24 hours,” Lasmar said.
(With inputs from IANS)
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