Why Neymar's Red Card Might Have Ended Brazil's Copa America Championship Hopes
Colombia won 1-0 on Wednesday, ending a spell of 24 years without a competitive win over Brazil.
The big story, however, came after the game when Neymar took a free shot at Pablo Armero before headbutting Jeison Murillo. The result was a red card that could potentially leave the superstar out for two games.
Remember a year ago when these teams met in the World Cup? The result was different, but Neymar's fate was similar. In that game he was seen off on a stretcher thanks an injury he suffered. This time he had no one to blame but himself.
Neymar was already on his way to missing the last group game against Venezuela after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament. He was given a yellow in the opening against Peru and received one in the Colombia match for a handball on a goalscoring opportunity.
However, the idea of him potentially missing two games is disastrous for his nation.
Assuming that Peru beats Venezuela, then the four teams in Group C would be level on points with three. A loss to Venezuela in the final game coupled with a win by either Colombia or Peru means that Brazil is automatically third or fourth in its group.
If it finishes third in the group then it has to hope for no other third place teams gaining more than three points in their respective groups. In Group A, there are already two teams with four points, and the teams lacking those four points, Mexico and Ecuador, will face off in the final game. If Mexico wins, then it would have five points, eclipsing Brazil.
In Group A, three teams have at least three points with Argentina and Paraguay already owning four points. If Uruguay tops Paraguay, then three teams in that group would be better off than Brazil.
That would push Brazil out of the tournament.
Of course that is making a huge assumption that Brazil loses against Venezuela and other results play out in a certain way. Crazier things have happened in this tournament.
In any case, a loss against Venezuela now seems likelier than ever for Dunga's squad for a number of reasons. First off Neymar is the life force of this team.
When he is at the top of his game, he carries Brazil on his own. When he is not at this best, such as was the case against Colombia, he fires routine shots far from the net.
How reliant is Brazil on its captain? He had two shots on goal and one on target; the team had a total of nine shots with only Firmino getting three over shots (he missed all three including a wide open net). Of Brazil's 19 dribbles, Neymar had nine.
The team has yet to score a goal in this tournament without his intervention and the best chances created came from him. Obviously the best scoring chance of the night came to Roberto Firmino off a miscue on Colombia's backend. Otherwise it was Neymar creating the danger from Brazil.
Colombia had some holes at the back, something that Venezuela did not show any signs of in its comprehensive and disciplined 1-0 win over Colombia. Venezuela is a team that can defend and cut down teams with organization and incessant high pressure.
Everyone saw how Peru shut down Brazil with facility in that role in the first game, and without Neymar it seems that Brazil will need some sparks from elsewhere.
They have not come and they may not come.
However, if Brazil does get by Venezuela and Neymar is out, what is the team to do in a knockout game against Argentina, Chile or even Bolivia? The latter option would be the preferred one, and it could happen if Brazil manages to finish second in the group and Bolivia finishes second in Group A. But what of Chile or Argentina?
Both sides have shown that they can win despite their top players being shadowed, something Brazil has yet to display under Dunga.
Neymar's lack of discipline will cost him a few games, but it might have also cost his team its tournament. For those who still have their doubts, we will leave it with kind reminder.
Remember the last time Brazil had to learn to live without Neymar? In case you need a refresher, here was the score line : 7-1.