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Lately, Brazil has struggled to keep up its standing as one of many world’s most dominant nationwide groups, a decline highlighted by their disappointing efficiency within the 2024 Copa America. Addressing the group’s ongoing challenges, Brazil legend Cafu addressed Vinicius Junior and the nationwide group’s reliance on Neymar for over a decade, declaring that this dependency has hampered their progress.
Since their final World Cup triumph in 2002, Brazil has failed to succeed in the ultimate stage of the event. Their humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany within the 2014 semifinals and the heartbreaking quarterfinal defeat to Croatia in 2022 have been important setbacks. Regardless of Neymar’s expertise and international stature, Brazil’s incapability to domesticate a group able to stepping up in his absence has been obtrusive.
In an interview with Globo Esporte, Cafu expressed his disappointment with Brazil’s one-dimensional method. “We spent nearly 14 years depending on a single participant, Neymar. Our best participant, our best idol, the participant we knew might resolve our issues at any second. Inform me, who’s the nationwide idol at the moment, after Neymar, on an absolute, international stage? After Neymar, we haven’t had one other idol,” he mentioned, dismissing Vinicius.
Cafu additionally drew comparisons between the present squad and Brazil’s legendary 2002 World Cup-winning group. “And we all know that in the event you depend on only one participant, you received’t win a World Cup. It’s not possible. You don’t win a World Cup relying on a single participant.
“I all the time say, as you in contrast it to 2002, let’s return. In 2002, you had Ronaldo. If Ronaldo wasn’t performing effectively, Rivaldo would step up. If Rivaldo wasn’t at his greatest, Ronaldinho Gaucho would resolve it. If Ronaldinho wasn’t performing, Roberto Carlos might make the distinction with a free kick,” Cafu ended his assertion.
Cafu’s optimism for the 2026 World Cup
Regardless of Brazil’s struggles in latest tournaments, together with their early exit within the 2024 Copa America and a rocky begin to the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers (the place they at present sit fifth with 18 factors, seven behind the leaders), Cafu stays optimistic in regards to the group’s future.
“We now have gamers who can tackle that duty. Gamers who’re champions with their golf equipment. We’ve Rodrygo, who’s somebody that steps as much as take duty. We’ve Vini Jr., Raphinha… We’ve Marquinhos, a defender who all the time steps as much as take duty. I consider at the moment it’s extra divided,” Cafu mentioned, noting that the present squad has the potential to maneuver away from the Neymar-centric method.
Nonetheless, in Vinicius’ case, the Actual Madrid star has but to completely tackle the mantle. Whereas he scored twice in three video games throughout the 2024 Copa America, his suspension in opposition to Uruguay and inconsistent performances left questions on his capability to guide the group. Cafu believes that distributing duty throughout the squad, notably with Neymar’s return, might unlock Vinicius’ potential.
Neymar’s potential reintegration into the group
Neymar has been sidelined for over a yr following an ACL damage throughout a World Cup qualifier in opposition to Uruguay in 2023. His absence has left a noticeable void, however the Al Hilal ahead is anticipated to make his return throughout the subsequent worldwide break in March.
Cafu believes Neymar might thrive within the present squad if the duty is best distributed. “Neymar would slot in very effectively. This squad might present him with the assist he wants. Nevertheless it relies on the way you get these guys to play. The way you distribute duty to them. At the moment, I see gamers who can present equal assist to one of many best gamers we’ve had prior to now 14 years, which is Neymar,” Cafu ended his assertion.
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