adminRIO DE JANEIRO. — Brazil star Neymar is under too much pressure to deliver the hosts with a sixth World Cup trophy, football legend Pele told the BBC. The 22-year-old Barcelona striker — who has scored seven goals in Brazil’s nine successive friendly wins leading into the finals — is too young to be loaded with such expectations said Pele ahead of the hosts opening game with Croatia in Sao Paulo today.
Pele’s comments came despite his impressive performances for Brazil at last year’s Confederations Cup — the mini dress rehearsal for the World Cup — which saw them overwhelm present World Cup holders Spain 3-0 in the final with Neymar scoring a spectacular goal.
“Neymar is young,” three-time World Cup winner Pele told the BBC.
“It is a heavy pressure for him to get all the responsibility.”
Pele (73) and Brazil’s record goalscorer with 77 goals, said coach Luiz Felipe Scolari — who coached Brazil to the last of their five World Cup trophies in 2002 — had succeeded in turning the team into an outstanding defensive unit, which has often been the weakness in the national side.
They have scored 30 goals and conceded just two in their nine consecutive victories since losing to fellow World Cup finalists Switzerland last August.
Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times but have not lifted the trophy since 2002.
The hosts, who face Croatia in the tournament opener in Sao Paulo tonight, won the 2013 Confederations Cup, beating world champions Spain 3-0 in the final.
Neymar, who plays his club football for Barcelona, grabbed the headlines with his performance in that game and scored Brazil’s second goal with a rasping left-foot shot.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side have also won nine successive friendlies since defeat by Switzerland in August, scoring 30 goals and conceding only two.
“For the first time in history, Brazil has a defence better than they attack,” said 73-year-old Pele, his country’s all-time leading scorer with 77 goals. — AFP.
Online Reporter