This article originally appeared at Soccer Classroom
Will their be a new number 1 player soon? – (Photo: Voxxi.com)
For the last 6 years, the soccer world has been under the direct rule of the Spanish National soccer team. This team has won every major tournament since the 2008 EURO tournament and will once again be the favorites for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. However, while they have simply dominated possession of games and dictated the play throughout recent times, their rule is becoming stagnant and stale. They play too patiently, sucking the life out of games with their sideways passing and all-to-close ball control before finding the crucial goal to win. The world needs a hero to stop this team, and that man can be the Brazilian sensation, Neymar.
Neymar is 21 and has just signed with Barcelona in Spain. He has been a wonderful star striker for Santos in Brazil and has flashed moments of brilliance with nifty tricks and flashy moves. He represents the next potential legend of Brazilian soccer. The world has already seen the wonderful displays of Pele and Ronaldo. Now it can be Neymar who leads this nation to glory.
In the Confederations Cup (A small-scale dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup, currently in action in Brazil), Neymar has shown his brilliance. Scoring a goal in each game so far, Neymar has displayed an incredible shooting foot, sending in a nice free kick as well as several other powerful efforts from distance. His tricky assist in the Mexico game, where he sped past two defenders and sent in a brilliant cross showed off his ability to create and work cohesively as a teammate. He has the potential to become the world’s best soccer player.
And so, is there enough evidence to suggest that Neymar will be well adapted to beat Spain? We may find out very soon as the two nations are on a path to meet in the final of the 2013 Confederations Cup. And though this game is little more than a glorified friendly, the experience could certainly set the stage for a massive match should they meet in the 2014 World Cup, in Brazil, with everything on the line.
Brazil also has a solid team to surround Neymar, with brilliant players like Oscar, David Luiz, Dani Alves, and Hulk. Neymar doesn’t have to take on Spain all by his lonesome like Lionel Messi would with Argentina. Brazil plays better as a team.
Regardless of how this current tournament plays out in the coming week, Neymar will also be blessed with an incredible opportunity next season as he joins the prestigious Barcelona club. Made up mostly of Spanish internationals, Barcelona will enable Neymar to train and play with the best players in the world. This experience of knowing Spain’s team inside and out will serve him greatly should the nations of Brazil and Spain meet at the World Cup.
And so from the beautiful beaches of Brazil, there is finally hope that someone in soccer may actually dethrone the Spanish National team. They have won enough trophies already! And sure, watching Brazil win another World Cup may seem a bit redundant, but at this point I’m ready for a change, even from another traditional super-power! Here’s to hoping that Neymar stuns the world next year in the 2014 World Cup!
