In the middle of last year, when Brazil lost a Copa America on home soil for the first time in their history, the whole Qatar endeavour seemed ill fated, destined to end, like all Brazil’s World Cup campaigns since the 2002 triumph, as soon as they came up against a major western European side in the knockout stages.
Radically and quickly, the mood has changed. An exciting new array of attacking options has emerged. And the rise of the likes of Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Antony, Richarlison, Gabriel Martinelli, et al. is undeniably beneficial for Neymar, the team’s undoubted main star, whose international legacy hangs on what happens in November and December. Curiously, Neymar in Qatar will be almost exactly the same age as Pele when he stopped playing for Brazil.…
