‘Neymar is Brazil’s problem child’

Former Manchester United and Denmark great Peter Schemeichel has blasted Neymar as a ‘problem child’ in the Brazil lineup after the Selecao eased past Serbia to make it to the Round of 16 stage of the World Cup.

Schmeichel has praised a Brazil team galvanized by the tactics of manager Tite but singled out star Neymar for criticism while talking to RT.

The former goalkeeper also pointed out that Brazil is not all about flair. They have adapted to the game and can build attacks from defence.

“If people think this is the Brazil of old, with all the flair and a lot of characters who do things that you never see, or you never see footballers do, then don’t watch Brazil, that’s not the team they are any more - very very solid, they are difficult to break down,” Schmeichel said.

“[Tite’s] brought Paulinho back, he sits there in that gap in front of the back four - he did score the goal today, it was one of the first times I’ve actually seen him break into the other half.”

Schemeichel felt that Neymar was not having an effective World Cup despite the Brazilian having scored against Costa Rica. “They still have their little problem child Neymar, who is the most expensive player in the world, an unbelievable amount of money was paid to him by PSG and he’s still trying to impress everyone with his skills, and still nothing is really happening for Neymar, he had a couple of chances today that he missed."

He felt that the other Brazil players look upto Neymar to make the difference and while the talented forward did receive help from teammates he has not been able to show his complete potential. Schemeichel believed that Neymar being benched would not be the worst idea in the world.

“It’s also in the actual game where I think he becomes the problem. It’s like the other players they think the game is designed to whenever they have the ball, they find Neymar and he will do something.

“They do find Neymar - that bit is ok. But he won’t do something. It’s not happening for him. And I think, either he needs a little break - he might not even be completely fit, because he’s always injured going into this tournament but his current standard and his current level, it might not be a bad idea to give him a bit of a break,” he concluded.