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Neymar's World Cup Absence Draws Media Fire; President Lula Expresses Optimism

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Brazil's star player Neymar will miss a second consecutive World Cup match due to injury.
  • Brazilian media have criticized Neymar, contrasting his absence with the active play of stars like Messi and Mbappé.
  • President Lula da Silva expressed optimism, recalling a saying that Brazil often wins when underestimated.

Brazil's World Cup campaign faces another setback as star player Neymar will miss his second consecutive match due to injury. The team is set to play Haiti in a crucial game to secure their first win, but Neymar's absence continues to be a point of contention.

Brazilian fans want a warrior who fights on the field, not someone who becomes a showpiece in AI virtual videos!

— Jornal de BrasíliaCriticizing Neymar's absence and perceived lack of on-field presence.

Brazilian media have been critical of Neymar's situation, particularly in contrast to the dynamic performances of global stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. A column in the Brazilian newspaper "Jornal de Brasília" lamented that "Brazilian fans want a warrior who fights on the field, not someone who becomes a showpiece in AI virtual videos!" The media expressed a desire for a "soul warrior" who can score for the team, rather than a "virtual hero."

Brazilian fans need not a 'virtual hero,' but a soul warrior who can score for the team.

— Jornal de BrasíliaExpressing the media's sentiment about what the team needs.

According to "O Estado de S. Paulo," Neymar is focused on his rehabilitation and basic physical conditioning, with a potential return targeted for the final group stage match against Scotland on June 25th. Despite the draw in their first match against Morocco, Brazilian President Lula da Silva remained optimistic. He invoked an old saying in international football: "When Brazil is not favored before a major tournament, they often end up winning the championship." He urged patience, stating, "Let's wait and see how this will unfold."

It's no big deal.

— President Lula da SilvaDownplaying the team's initial draw against Morocco.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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