ROB DRAPER: Brazil struggled to fill Neymar void - with Fred hooked after 57 minutes - as they laboured to a narrow win over Switzerland... Tite's men will need their best player back if they are going to win the World Cup
- Casemiro scored a late thunderbolt as Brazil beat Switzerland 1-0 on Monday
- Fred started the match in Neymar's absence but was substituted in 57th minute
- Neymar was ruled out of rest of the group stage after suffering an ankle injury
The Samba drums beat their constant rhythmic encouragement, the canary yellow shirts were everywhere, illuminating the stadium and the original Ronaldo sat in the stands, cheered whenever the big screen caught a glimpse of him.
In short, it had everything a Brazil World Cup match ought to: that fevered sense of anticipation, the feeling that you're at one of the great events in sport and the sheer joy being alive.
What it didn't have was Neymar, who is nursing an alarmingly- swollen ankle. Instead, we had Fred. And, without wishing to jump unkindly on a bandwagon, that seemed an underwhelming replacement for Brazil's most iconic player since Ronaldinho.
![Casemiro scored a late thunderbolt as Brazil beat Switzerland 1-0 at Stadium 974 on Monday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/28/17/65016867-11470017-image-a-52_1669657587168.jpg)
Casemiro scored a late thunderbolt as Brazil beat Switzerland 1-0 at Stadium 974 on Monday
![Neymar shared pictures of his swollen ankle, and protective gear, to his Instagram](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/26/20/64967071-11472805-The_PSG_star_has_shared_pictures_of_his_swollen_ankle_and_protec-a-22_1669495236921.jpg)
Neymar shared pictures of his swollen ankle, and protective gear, to his Instagram
For it turns out that, against a doughty Swiss side in no mood to play the role of Harlem Globetrotters' token opposition, Brazil are in fact a weaker side without their best player.
They did get there in the end and what a joy it was when Casemiro who, seeing a bouncing ball in the box, connected with it so sweetly he might have been Tiger Woods driving at his peak or Sachin Tendulkar swatting the ball away to the boundary.
From the moment boot connected with ball, Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer knew the game was up. The net rippled before he had moved. The huddle of Brazilians around the Manchester United midfielder in the corner included most of the bench. We had played 83 minutes and mini meltdown in Brazil was over. Normal service was resumed.
![The Manchester United star breached Switzerland's defence with a stunner in the 83rd minute](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/28/18/65016869-11470017-image-a-68_1669658489235.jpg)
The Manchester United star breached Switzerland's defence with a stunner in the 83rd minute
The fans, previously subdued, other than those samba drums, were suddenly in full voice. We were back, in the Brazil World Cup fantasy land.
Still, it's hard to forget those preceding 83 minutes. Every team that faces them in the knock-out stages will watch them to demythologise their opponents.
They had their moments here against Switzerland. Just not many of them. And not always in the right order. They looked a team made for Instagram highlights: brief spells of slick moves but long periods of turgid trying.
Tite, their coach, was obliged afterwards to trot out the line about the team being the star, and it is indeed something of advantage to have Rodrygo, Gabriel Jesus, Antony and Bruno Guimareas to come off the bench. But he was candid enough to acknowledge the special one.
'Obviously Neymar has a different skillset, in one magical moment he can dribble past someone and you say: "What happened there!?"
![Fred started the match in Neymar's absence but was substituted in the second half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/28/18/65011505-11470017-image-a-71_1669658661374.jpg)
Fred started the match in Neymar's absence but was substituted in the second half
'He has that skill but other players are getting there to his level. So, yes, we do miss Neymar he has a big creative power, he's very offensive and we miss him but there are other players and they can take that opportunity.'
It is also true that had Vinicius Junior connected properly with a glorious sweeping Raphinha cross field pass on 28 minutes, it might have turned out differently. Maybe then Brazil would have relaxed into the team they surely can be?
But he scuffed the volley, allowing Sommer to save. There was a brief commotion on 65 minutes when Vinicius Jnr did have the ball in the net, courtesy of a trademark sweeping move, but Richarlison had contributed from an offside position and so VAR intervened.
![Talisman Neymar is out for the rest of the group stage after injuring his ankle against Serbia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/11/28/18/65005683-0-Talisman_Neymar_is_out_for_the_rest_of_the_group_stage_after_inj-a-1_1669660495712.jpg)
Talisman Neymar is out for the rest of the group stage after injuring his ankle against Serbia
When Neymar will be back, nobody knows. Brazil have the most voracious sports press in the world and they are in the dark.
Neymar hasn't left his hotel, when we last saw him his ankle was so swollen it looked unlikely he'll be featuring any time soon. He certainly won't be need for the Cameroon game now Brazil have qualified. Whether we will see him again in Doha is a moot point.
But let's be clear, the World Cup wants him and Brazil needs him. Playing Neymar does mean you have to pander to a gigantic ego. It leaves you short in the tracking back department. It means you're expected to direct all the play through him. None of these are good things in modern football. But having your best player is.
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