After Brazil’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup on Friday at the hands of Croatia, Neymar has suggested that he may follow Brazil coach Tite in leaving the national team.
Brazil’s World Cup run came to an abrupt end in the quarterfinals for the second time in a row after a thrilling penalty shootout loss to Croatia, who went on to win the tournament. Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar, 30, has stated that Qatar may have been his final chance to win the tournament.
:format(webp)/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/soccer/2022/12/10/neymars-future-with-brazil-uncertain-after-world-cup-loss/20221209131240-63938156821cf083b82aeacejpeg.jpg)
In the Friday elimination game at the Education City Stadium outside of Doha, Neymar tied Pele’s record of 77 international goals when he scored the game’s first goal in extra time. However, Bruno Petkovic’s late equaliser insured that the tie would be decided by a lottery of penalty kicks.
In the next penalty shootout, Croatia won thanks to Marquinhos’ key miss, leaving Neymar, who was supposed to take Brazil’s fifth penalty, as little more than a spectator.
READ ALSO: Qatar 2022: In A Dramatic World Cup Shootout, Croatia Defeats Brazil
After his team was eliminated in Qatar, Brazil coach Tite announced his resignation after six years in charge and claimed he was “going in peace.”
“It is a painful defeat but I go in peace. It is the end of a cycle,” he said.
“I already said that a year and a half ago. I didn’t come here to win and then turn around and say I was going to stay. People who know me know that.”
However, Neymar was unsure of his future in the illustrious yellow shirt.
“I need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team” he told the media following the match.
“I am not closing any doors on the national team but I am also not guaranteeing 100% that I will return.
“It is an awful feeling. I think this is a worse feeling than what happened at the last World Cup,” he added, referring to Brazil’s elimination in Russia four years ago against Belgium.
“It is difficult to find the words to describe this moment. We fought and I am proud of my team-mates, proud of the character they showed to step up and take penalties.”
