Neymar leaves Seleção future open
After losing the Seleção at the World Cup and his associated end as national coach, Brazil’s coach Tite has asked himself the question of responsibility. “I understand that I bear the primary responsibility, I’m not a hypocrite. But I’m not solely responsible, we’re all responsible,” said the 61-year-old after the 4-2 penalty shoot-out against Croatia in the quarter-finals. Tite had already announced before the tournament in Qatar that he would retire afterwards.
In 2018 in Russia he and his team also failed in the quarterfinals, at that time against Belgium. In 2019, Tite won the Copa América with the Brazilians, and the dream of a world title was shattered again. “I respect the result,” he said, dismayed. Tite defended the decision to have superstar Neymar only as the fifth penalty taker. The Paris professional didn’t get a chance because the decision had already been made beforehand. “Because the fifth is crucial, that’s where the pressure is greatest,” explained the coach. Tite also contradicted a journalist that his team lacked orientation when conceding a goal: “I can’t agree that we were disorganized.”
Neymar has left his future in the Brazil national team open after disappointing elimination at the World Cup in Qatar. “It’s very early to talk about it. I don’t close the door to the Seleção. But I also don’t guarantee 100 percent that I will return,” said the superstar late on Friday evening in Al-Rajjan. The Brazilians had previously missed out on a place in the semi-finals after beating Croatia 4-2 on penalties. “I’ll have to analyze and think a bit about everything that’s good for me, what’s good for the Seleção,” said the 30-year-old. The Paris Saint-Germain striker had said before the tournament that this would likely be his last World Cup. Now he sounded like the game against Croatia might even have been his last for the Seleção.
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