With Neymar injured and Thiago Silva suspended, Brazil could be heading for an exit Tuesday night. Brazil’s biggest superstar suffered a fractured vertebra ruling him out for the rest of the World Cup, while their best centre back received one yellow card too many and he will only be available for the final or third-place play off.
Unquestionably, Neymar’s injury is of more significance than Silva’s suspension—but the holes left behind by both players will cause huge problems leading up to their game against Germany.
According to the BBC’s Phil McNulty, Luiz Felipe Scolari apparently admitted that he was unsure as to how to adjust to Neymar’s absence. Neymar was an integral part of Brazil’s attack in the past couple of years—he covered up the lacking performances by Fred and Hulk in this World Cup. Now, both Fred and Hulk as well as another attacker has to step up to the plate.
A lot of the media (at least here in the UK) have been questioning who will fill the newly vacant “no. 10” role. Although to call Neymar’s position as a “no. 10” role is slightly questionable, considering he plays out on the wing. A “no. 10” role can be seen as an advanced playmaker or a second striker—which Neymar certainly can act as—but he finds himself usually limited on the wing, rather than acting as a trequartista. That current role belongs to Oscar.
Brazil set themselves out either in a 4-3-3 formation or a 4-2-3-1 formation (usually the former), with Fred spearheading an attack with Neymar and Hulk on the wings. Oscar, acts as the “no 10” as he plays in an advanced midfield role, sitting ahead of two central, deep-lying midfielders in Fernandinho and Paulinho.
With that in mind, why would Scolari dare risk changing the setup that has worked so far? If Oscar was already playing in the “no. 10” role, and not Neymar, then surely it should be a straight swap on the wing?
After all, it is the only formation that the Brazilian side have become accustomed to. The Brazil team are very one dimensional and are overly reliant on Neymar performing in the wing—and well pretty much carrying a mediocre attacking unit.
Therefore, either Willian or Bernard, should come in as a straight swap with Neymar, and Oscar should remain in that advanced playmaker role. Oscar has been quite impressive in that position, and surprisingly aggressive too (he has made more tackles than anybody else in the World Cup). It would make little sense to change the side’s dynamic and therefore Willian should be on the left wing, not the “No. 10” role that Oscar actually occupies.
Meanwhile, Thiago Silva is not going to be a pain to replace, but his services are irreplaceable. Silva, is without question, the rock of that Brazilian defence. While some of his leadership qualities as captain can be questioned (just watch the penalty shootout against Chile), his defensive attributes are far superior to the players around him.
The likely defensive partnership for the upcoming match will probably be David Luiz and Dante. It is not the ugliest of defensive partnerships, but it is one that does not promise much. Luiz, has certainly got the heart and physical capabilities, but his positioning is one of the worst anybody has seen in a centre back. Dante is a more consistent performer, but is not as gifted as Luiz—with that being said, Dante should have definitely started alongside Silva, not Luiz.
The loss of two key players is huge for Brazil and it would not be surprising if Brazil succumb to a home defeat for the first time in 39 years. While Germany have been far from their exceptional selves, they have been performing better than Brazil. Although, Brazil’s performance against Colombia was their best in the World Cup so far, the momentum from that game is likely to be diminished with Neymar being injured and Silva suspended. And for Brazil, they could be saying “Adeus” to their hopes of lifting the World Cup once again.
Projected lineup: Julio Cesar; Maicon, David Luiz, Dante, Marcelo; Fernandinho, Paulinho, Oscar; Hulk, Willian, Fred.
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