Neymar ready to fire

RIO DE JANEIRO. — Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar has brushed aside any suggestion the pressure he is under to win the World Cup in his own backyard could crush him.
The Barcelona ace is the man under more pressure than any other in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad, with millions hoping his skills hold the key to a sixth World Cup triumph on July 13.

But the 22-year-old insists he has lived with pressure ever since his talents first came to the notice of the world at the age of 13, and he will take it all in his stride. “It’s been a dream since I was young, and today it’s right before me: I’m Brazil’s No. 10, I’m going to play the World Cup, in my own country,”said Neymar, whose team kick off the World Cup with a very tricky game against Croatia tomorrow.

“I can’t see that as pressure. It has to give me pride and happiness to take onto the pitch. Everyone says winning the World Cup is an indescribable joy, so I’m dying to feel that myself. I can’t wait to shout: ‘We’re champions!’

“They say, ‘You’re under pressure, being the big name in the squad’. I’m not under pressure, I’m happy.

“I’ve always done things my way. I’ve had press with me since I was 13, saying I’d be the new Robinho. I’m someone who doesn’t really worry. If you don’t tell me that I’m Neymar and that I play for Barcelona and Brazil, I’ll forget it.

“People imagine me as they see me on television, but I’m completely different because I don’t feel pressure about anything.”

Scolari has bullishly predicted a Brazil-Argentina final in Rio, which would pit Neymar against his club-mate Lionel Messi, who surprised the Brazilian with his warm welcome when he arrived at the Nou Camp last summer.

“Before coming, I heard all the horrible things people say: that he’s very reserved and doesn’t talk to anyone,” said Neymar. Now I see it completely differently. Aside from being the genius, off the pitch he’s always great with me — not just me, but when I see him with other people too. There’s nothing bad I can say about him.”

Scolari is the last Brazil coach to claim the trophy in 2002 in Japan, and Neymar said: “The coach talks about 2002 a lot about it. He says the World Cup is the toughest tournament. There’s no room for error, you must be at full speed from the get-go. It’s a short tour.”— The Daily Express.