FOLLOWING Neymar’s debacle at the 2018 World Cup, including rolling around on the turf and tears after beating lowly Panama, Tite has decided that it is time to bestow the captaincy on another, more experienced player.
Dani Alves, looking spry as ever at age 36, has been named Brazil captain ahead of the 2019 Copa America, which is hosted by Brazil. This is according to Brazilian publication O Globo, which stated that Neymar actually lost the captaincy after his altercation with a fan, following the Coupe de France final. That earned also him a suspension from his club side Paris Saint-Germain.
Alves was one of the players missing from Brazil’s 2018 World Cup squad after he suffered a knee injury just before the tournament, a huge blow to the veteran right back.
As a veteran presence, he is one of the few players who can put an arm around Neymar, and one that the star attacker still looks up to. Neymar has worn the captain’s armband off and on since the 2014 World Cup, including leading his country out at the 2016 Olympics on home soil.
It remains to be seen whether Neymar will take this decision in stride or become upset about it and showcase his emotion on the pitch. – NBC Sports
