Brazil coach expects key duo to recover fitness and reveals faith in attacking talents
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Tite was unaware of extent of Neymar injury against Serbia
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Danilo was similarly hurt but soldiered on until full-time
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Brazil without duo for Switzerland test on Monday
Tite admits he erred when leaving Neymar on the field after the superstar forward sustained an ankle injury against Serbia – but the coach is optimistic over the Paris Saint-Germain player’s chances of featuring in Brazil’s World Cup campaign.
In a further boost for the South Americans, Tite revealed defender Danilo is likely to recover from an ankle problem in time for the later stages of the tournament.
Neymar was hurt in a challenge with Serbia defender Nikola Milenkovic after 64 minutes of Brazil’s 2-0 win on Thursday. It wasn’t until the 80th minute, however, that the 30-year-old was replaced by Antony.
Danilo, who suffered a tournament-ending injury in the opening game of the Russia 2018 World Cup, completed the game against Serbia but was later diagnosed with ankle ligament damage. Both players will sit out Monday’s clash with Switzerland and are likely to remain absent for Brazil’s final Group H game, against Cameroon on Friday.
“I made a mistake,” said Tite. “I did not realise [severity of Neymar’s injury] and I want to publicly acknowledge this. He was injured, I didn’t see that he had an injury, we didn’t get that information. He tried to continue to play until he told us he was feeling his ankle, because… he had the ability to try to push with the team. He participated in the goals.
“Because they [Neymar and Danilo] are two truly integrated players to the team, players with soul, they stayed on the pitch, even though they were injured. This shows us a very high degree of synchronism. A very strong sense of team spirit.”
Asked whether Neymar and Danilo remained on course for relatively speedy recoveries, Tite said: “That’s my opinion. Medically I am not in a position to speak but I do have the medical reports. I can continue to say that not only about Neymar but also about Danilo. Both situations have changed, but we do believe both will be available to play.”
Neymar was involved in the build-up for Richarlison’s breakthrough goal aainst Serbia and still on the field when the Tottenham Hotspur forward added a spectacular second.
“The ability to absorb and contribute, knowing that it was important is something huge as a person, not only as an athlete,” added Tite. “It shows his character and his conduct.
“For Danilo, it goes the same way, and must I say I made a mistake as a coach. I need to save a final substitution towards the end of the game, just in case of an injury, and I made this mistake to not be prepared for this. Danilo had the greatness, the morality, to stay on the pitch. He wanted to help his team avoid any danger regarding the final score. This whole thing transcends football. It is all about the human aspect.”
How Brazil cope without Neymar is among the most intriguing elements of the encounter with a dangerous Switzerland side that began its own World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Cameroon.
The five-times champions collapsed in their home World Cup eight years ago after Neymar’s competition was ended by a fractured back sustained in the quarter-finals. A 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany remains a raw wound that will probably only truly heal when Brazil manage a sixth tournament triumph.
And Tite has no fears over his team’s attempt to claim their first title since 2002 being derailed by the blow for Neymar, the 61-year-old pointing to the attacking arsenal in the Brazilian squad to explain his confidence.
“What I think about major talents it they are players who do everything well,” said Tite.
“There are other players. An assist from Vinicius [Junior], or creativity when finishing a play from Richarlison, a header from Pedro, a chance for Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha… they have this ability.”
Brazil defender Marquinhos, a clubmate of Neymar’s in the French capital, celebrated a clean sheet on his first World Cup start last week. And he echoed his coach’s sentiments over the team’s prowess at the other end of the pitch, even without their attacking titan.
“[We are] 100-per-cent confident,” said Marquinhos. “We wish we could have Neymar playing, we would love to have 26 players fully available, but we are ready and confident we will be able to show our group is strong, well trained, and ready for any difficulties we might face.
“We must be wise enough to see everybody has an important role to play, the importance of the ones who were not starting and came in. Now we have injuries, it’s important the ones who replace them are ready for the moment so we can play our best. I believe taking into account this talent, we’ll be able to keep this level.”
Neymar was visibly distraught following his enforced withdrawal against Serbia. But Marquinhos added to Tite’s upbeat bulletin on the player with a positive update of his own.
“Right after the game, he was sad. I think that’s normal, because he dreamt so much about the World Cup and now he’s suffered an injury,” added Marquinhos.. “After the tests, the training, the treatment, he’s going through physio 24 hours a day, working very hard. It shows how much he wants to be fit and ready.
“We don’t know how long it will take. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he will be fit physically and emotionally very soon.”