Neymar and Brazil Make a Sluggish Start to Olympic Games Bid

There is immense pressure on Neymar to come through and lead Brazil to their first-ever Olympic Games football gold. But judging on the evidence of the team's first run-out, both he and his team will have to improve fast to make that dream come true. 

It has been a long post-season for the Selecao captain. The last time he had taken the field for a competitive match came almost three months ago, when Barcelona downed Sevilla 2-0 to lift the Copa del Rey. 

Neymar was on target in that match, but the endless interval and less-than-ideal preparations for the Olympics on Brazil's side seem to have taken their toll. Certainly in Brasilia's Estadio Mane Garrincha, South Africa looked more alert, in better shape and more likely to make something happen during a disappointing 0-0 draw for the hosts. 

Coach Rogerio Micale put out an attacking line-up for the opening match. Neymar played alongside Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Barbosa—two of the most promising young stars in Brazilian football—in an offensive trident, originally lining up on the left-hand side of the field as he does to such devastating effect for Barca. 

Eraldo Peres/Associated Press

When it became evident that the captain was being overpowered on the flank, he moved to a more central, deeper position behind the two strikers. But there was no way through. South Africa's flawless defence refused to allow Brazil to dominate, and their speed and power when breaking forward surprised the home team. 

Not even when Mothobi Mvala earned a second yellow card could Neymar and Co. break the deadlock. South Africa at that point sensibly pulled back and defended the scoreless draw, inviting their more illustrious rivals to come at them. Micale took the bait, throwing Luan Guilherme de Jesus Vieira on as a fourth forward, but despite Brazil pushing hard, the match meandered into a tie that leaves Group A still wide-open. 

Throughout their preparations, Brazil had worked on a fluid, passing game to unlock their Olympic opponents. At the lowest points against South Africa, however, the team degenerated into the type of disorganised rabble that cost Dunga his job in the Copa America. 

The incisive balls disappeared, replaced by aimless crosses into the area that South Africa repelled effortlessly. No wonder that, with the Copa disappointment still fresh and the wounds from failure at the 2014 World Cup on home soil yet to heal, the Selecao were roundly booed in Brasilia as they left the field. 

According to Sport, Neymar said following the game: 

"

For us, the draw is like a defeat. We have to win, we know our responsibility. We will stay calm and get back to work again as soon as possible, so that we play well on Sunday.

The first game is always the most difficult, for the nerves you have before you begin to play.

I don't know how many great Brazilians have played in the Olympics and not been able to win it. We know this is not easy, we cannot just show up and take home the gold medal. 

We must play our football. We found it more difficult and we must learn to overcome this.

"

The forward did not touch on the issue, but there is no doubt that after months away from competitive football, he looked a shadow of his normal self. He was sluggish to react, overpowered by the South Africa defence, and while there was a marked improvement in the second half, his performance was far off what was expected of him. 

Eraldo Peres/Associated Press

Neither Brazil nor Neymar have reason to panic just yet. On Sunday the Selecao face a must-win clash as they take on minnows Iraq, who similarly pulled off a feat by holding Denmark to a draw in Group A. A win there would mean a point in their last group clash would be enough to send them into the quarter-finals. 

The display of young central midfielder Thiago Maia was a high point for Micale's men; the Santos teenager was diligent in guarding the back line and pushing Brazil forward from deep.

New Manchester City signing Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, missed a golden chance on Wednesday when sent through with a fine Neymar pass. But his attitude in shrugging off the miss—"That's football. Sometimes the ball doesn't go in the net," he said after the game—shows he will not let one erred effort ruin his confidence. 

Brazil and Neymar will get better with every 90 minutes that passes in the Games. But this underwhelming opener was a warning after those long months of inactivity. The captain is the standard-bearer for his team, and while he cannot win gold on his own, he must shrug off the inertia of that time away from the pitch and find the dynamism that makes him such a dangerous player to face for Barcelona.