Brazil vs. Uruguay: Neymar Will Power Home Side Through Semifinals Clash

In a match between two extremely talented teams, one big play could decide which advances to the Confederations Cup finals. Fortunately for Brazil, they boast one of the most talented finishers on the planet, capable of breaking open a match with one swift strike.

Neymar has the type of speed, quickness, polish and finishing prowess that can prove absolutely deadly for opposing defenders—as he proved several times on the group stage.

The 21-year-old tallied three goals in three contests last round, including two within the first 10 minutes of the match. Being able to finish with the best strikers on the planet is impressive enough. The fact that Neymar can find his tempo so early in matches is just unfair.

In a semifinals match with Uruguay that could easily be decided by one goal, Neymar’s propensity for striking early could substantially change the momentum of the contest. Brazil are an elite team that knows how to finish matches, and an early lead in this affair could get ugly for the Uruguayan side.

But talent only goes so far. Were this the opening clash of the tournament, we may be singing a different tune—as many were before Neymar earned Man of the Match honors in all three group stage contests.

What the 21-year-old has needed to this point in his career is confidence that he can succeed at the international level against elite competition. By all indications, Neymar has found that confidence.

And that confidence is well deserved. As BarcaStuff tweeted on Sunday, Neymar joined good company in notching a goal per match in the group stage of the tournament:

It would be foolish to suggest Uruguay’s bevy of talented attackers can’t give their side a tremendous chance in this match, but all things being equal, Neymar is simply on a different level right now.

And while Neymar’s finishing abilities have stolen the spotlight, he has also provided Brazil with an element of creativity and the propensity for facilitating a coordinated attack.

In the team’s three victories, Neymar has dished out 1.7 key passes per match—tops for any player in the Confederations Cup. When defenders are concerned with keeping tabs on the prolific striker, the rest of Brazil’s talented attack benefits from less attention and more scoring opportunities.

Uruguay’s Maxi Pereira will face a difficult challenge in attempting to quell Neymar’s impressive tournament run—perhaps the most difficult challenge he has faced in international play to this point. Pereira is capable of shutting down almost any talented striker, but he’ll have his hands full on Wednesday.

Brazil will have the advantage playing in front of their home crowd in a pivotal matchup, and while they haven’t won anything yet, Uruguay are in for an unbelievable challenge.

If Brazil are to advance to the finals, expect Neymar to be the man to make it happen. He’s already proven he can compete on the international stage. This match will be his chance to hammer home that point.