It has become a familiar sight for Brazil fans now in World Cup Finals—Neymar being at the receiving end of some rough treatment from the opposing team. Four years ago, things reached its nadir when the Brazilian star striker was literally kicked out of the tournament during the 2-1 quarterfinal win over Columbia. Neymar missed the semifinal, where Germany handed Brazil the most ignominious defeat in their World Cup history—a 7-1 thrashing. Interestingly, Colombian player Juan Zuniga who kneed Neymar, resulting in a fractured vertebra, went unpunished.
And if Brazil's opener against Switzerland in World Cup 2018 is anything to go by, the Paris Saint-Germain forward seems to be in the cross hairs of the opposing defenders yet again. Neymar was fouled 10 times in the match—the most in a World Cup match since 1998 when Alan Shearer was fouled 11 times in the match against Tunisia. He was seen hobbling off the field after the match.
Switzerland's Fabian Schaer (centre) tries to stop Neymar during the group E match at the 2018 World Cup in the Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don | AP
Switzerland, ranked sixth in the world, managed to hold the mighty Brazilians to a 1-1 draw, with Neymar being largely ineffective throughout the match. Or, should we say, he was rendered ineffective to an extent by some physical play by the Swiss. Though trolls were quick to crown Neymar the 'diving' king, the sheer number of fouls—and these are only those referee Cesar Ramos noted—are a reality check. Three Swiss players—Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schär and Valon Behrami— were booked in the match, and all were for challenges on Neymar. In fact, cameras captured Neymar's torn socks soon after the foul by Behrami, though the jury is still out on whether it was a result of the challenge.
Mexican referee Cesar Ramos shows the yellow card to Switzerland's Valon Behrami (left) as Neymar reacts during the group E match at the 2018 World Cup in the Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don | AP
Neymar may be fleet-footed but since he is not as well-built as a Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, he is a relatively easy target for the defenders. Addressing the media after the match, he played down injury concerns and refused to comment on the rough treatment meted out to him by the Swiss. But he called for more protection from the referees in the upcoming matches.
Brazil's forward Neymar falls during the group E match against Switzerland at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don | AFP
The 26-year-old was playing in his first competitive game since suffering a broken metatarsal in the Ligue 1 match against Marseille in February. Coach Tite had admitted that Neymar was not 100 per cent fit. Though he had played in a couple of friendlies—and scored in both—ahead of the World Cup 2018, the Finals are a different ball-game altogether.
There are indications that Neymar might be rested for the next game against Costa Rica on June 22, to keep him fit for the business end of the tournament.