Who is best to replace Neymar in the Brazilian national team? See Fernando Diniz’s options

Fernando Diniz He will have important absences in the Brazilian national team in the matches against them Colombia And world champion Argentinaby 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The interim captain will not be able to rely on goalkeeper Ederson, midfielder Casemiro and striker Richarlison, but the main absence will be Neymar, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during the 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in Montevideo, in recent FIFA statements. The player recently underwent surgery and is expected to be out of action for approximately ten months.

“Being without Neymar is always a loss for Brazilian football and for football as a whole,” Diniz said in a press conference after the call. “I have said it more than once: he is a football genius, one of the greatest players in history.” – Follow the Brazilian national team.

Without Neymar, Diniz will be available up front Vinny Junior (Real Madrid), Rodrigo (Real Madrid), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Rafinha (Barcelona).In addition to new arrivals Indrik (Palmereis), Joao Pedro (Brighton), Pepe (Porto) and Paulinho (Atletico Madrid). The different styles of forwards called in allow us to think of different ways to form the team.

Diniz tends to keep the team playing in a 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1, for most enthusiasts) – the formation Tite chose when winning the 2019 Copa America, without Neymar. The scheme was used by the Florence coach in all the matches in which he coached the national team, with two midfielders and Neymar at the top of the pyramid in the midfield. Against Venezuela and Uruguay, the attacking trio of Rodrigo, Gabriel Jesus and Vinny Junior was formed. In the previous matches, against Bolivia and Peru, the attackers were Rafinha, Richarlison and Rodrygo.

Most likely, Rodrigo will be returned to Neymar’s position and Rafinha will regain his place on the right wing. “Rodrigo is actually a possibility (for a substitute), because if you look at the way he plays, he is close to Neymar. It is a possibility, but nothing has been decided yet,” Diniz said. Another option is to keep Rodrygo open and replace Neymar with Rafael Vega, from Palmeiras, the only attacking midfielder called up by Fernando Diniz. It is worth noting that although he is with the group, Gabriel Jesus is recovering from injury and Endrik could be an option in the striker position.

Andre reference and news in the environment

A key player in Diniz’s plan at Fluminense, midfielder Andre has a chance to start due to the absence of Casemiro, who is suffering from a thigh injury. The 22-year-old pleases the coach with his quality with the ball at his feet and can play in front of defenders in a 4-1-4-1 formation.. In this case, Bruno Guimarães will be one of the starting midfielders, with Joelinton and Douglas Luiz vying for the other position, and Rodrigo and Fee Júnior competing for the second spot.

Appointed Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti did not confirm this, but the Brazilian Federation guarantees that the Italian will be coach of the Brazilian national team in July 2024. The Real Madrid coach had to reinvent the team’s way of playing after Benzema left for the Saudi Al-Ittihad. He abandoned the 4-3-3 to create a scheme with a diamond in midfield, with Bellingham appearing more advanced, and moving Rodrygo and Vinny Júnior from the wings to a more central position. If he wants to keep the Brazilian duo playing for the national team in the same way he does for Real Madrid, Diniz could opt to play Bruno Guimarães to play more advanced, while bolstering the midfield with Andre, Douglas Luiz and Joelinton. Another option would be to place Rodrygo as an attacking midfielder, keeping Guimarães back, and put Gabriel Jesus, Endric or Paulinho up front, who plays a similar role at Atletico MG.

Flu mode with four attackers

The group of players of technical quality in the Brazilian national team will also allow Fernando Diniz to assemble a team with four strikers. He played like this in crucial moments of the season for Fluminense, as in the 2-1 win over Internacional, in Beira Rio, in the second leg of the Libertadores semi-final. The coach chose to attack with Arias, Cano, JFK and Keno, playing only Andre and Janso in midfield. In the Brazilian national team, the most likely options up front are Rafinha, Rodrigo, Jesus (Andric or Paulinho) and Fini Junior, with Bruno Guimaraes and trusted man Andre.

The Brazilian national team will face Colombia next Thursday, in Barranquilla, at 9 pm (Brasilia time), and will face Argentina, led by Messi, on Tuesday, at 9:30 pm, at the Maracana Stadium. Brazil occupies third place in the qualifiers with seven points, behind Uruguay, which has the same score, and Argentina, with 12 points.