SOCCER
Brazil boss Tite defends Neymar after Colombia draw
After struggling to make an impact in Brazil's World Cup qualifying draw with Colombia on Sunday, Neymar was defended by the Seleção head coach.
Too much is expected of Neymar, Brazil boss Tite said after the Paris Saint-Germain star was criticised for a sub-par performance against Colombia.
The Seleção's run of nine straight victories in their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign was ended in a stalemate at Estadio Metropolitano on Sunday.
Neymar unable to make his mark in goalless draw
Neymar played the full 90 minutes in Barranquilla but struggled to make an impact in a game of few clear-cut opportunities.
He misplaced 15 passes against Colombia – his highest tally in a game this qualifying campaign – but Tite defended the 29-year-old after the match.
"Today he was very well marked"
"Neymar was good and so were the whole team," Tite said at his post-match news conference. "Maybe he's expected to do exceptional things all the time and make a difference all the time.
"He's an exceptional player because he produces exceptional moments, but not all the time. He's a different player, we know that.
"But today he was very well marked, sometimes with two players on him."
Neymar says 2022 World Cup set to be his last
Neymar's underwhelming performance came on the day in which he revealed the next World Cup could be his third and final one for Brazil.
The forward has scored 69 goals in 114 caps for Brazil since making his senior debut against the United States in August 2010.
Only Pelé (77) has found the net on more occasions for the Seleção, while his cap tally is only bettered by Cafú (142), Roberto Carlos (125) and Dani Alves (119).
Neymar has also endured a largely disappointing campaign at club level, having registered just one goal and two assists in seven games for PSG in all competitions.