Neymar’s biggest fan isn’t any of us—it’s Raphinha! 😂🇧🇷
It’s unclear what impression you, dear reader, have, but it’s evident that many Brazilians are making a huge effort to trust the national team. With about a month to go before the World Cup, the intention is to forget the troubled cycle, lingering traumas, and the team’s inconsistency, and instead invest whatever hope possible in the extremely difficult quest for the sixth title.
However, that hesitant confidence seems to crumble when we hear recent statements from some key players in Carlo Ancelotti’s unstable squad. Just as on the pitch, a lack of harmony prevails.
In an interview with TNT Sports, midfielder Casemiro discussed the possibility of Endrick being called up. “We can’t say he’s going to solve our problem at the World Cup. We have to be realistic because he’s not yet part of the group. We can’t put pressure on him.” It’s a confusing interview. It can be reasonably understood as a form of protection for the young Lyon player. In fact, Casemiro talks about “shielding” the striker.
But there is plenty of room for ambiguity in this muddled speech, including between the lines. “Not part of the group” could easily be interpreted as an intention to exclude Endrick from an already established environment—he wouldn’t be part of the inner circle, to use football slang. This sends a bad vibe at a delicate moment, and it disappoints especially because it comes from someone who wears the captain’s armband. At best, and I hope this is the case, Casemiro communicated poorly.
The Manchester United player also supported Neymar’s return to the Brazilian team. Similarly, Raphinha positioned himself a week ago in an interview on *Domingão com Huck*: “He’s the guy for the hexa.” There’s no problem with individual preferences, of course—every Brazilian, player or not, is born with a tactical board under their arm. However, regarding both Neymar and Endrick, these statements come at an inconvenient time, less than ten days before Ancelotti’s final squad announcement, especially when made by some of the squad’s main players.
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In 2002, the pre–World Cup process was very similar to what we see now, marked by worrying results and countless uncertainties. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari decided to stick with not calling up Romário, who was already a true legend due to his role in the fourth title—and had scored eight goals in the two weeks before the announcement. Memory might fail me, but I don’t recall such a commotion from major team representatives.
When we see key members of the national team publicly speaking about who should and shouldn’t be included, it gives the impression of a group unable to take ownership, one that puts the title race in second place—what matters is the company.
In a critical moment for Brazil, with a team that lacks credibility and could repeat the longest title drought in history, one misses a speech that conveys conviction and optimism. That basic yet essential message of “we’ll go with what we have and give it our all.” Especially because the current national team is in no position to demand blind faith from the fans, whose emotional support today is almost fed by obligation and sustained with great difficulty.
Should Endrick be in the World Cup? 👀