06 March 2023 , 09:42
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Luis Suarez has backed Neymar to play in another World Cup despite the Brazilian strongly suggesting the 2022 tournament was his last.
The PSG star has been unable to replicate his heroes by lifting the trophy aloft, falling short in each of his three attempts. The latest blow came in Qatar when Croatia upset the odds by beating the South Americans in a quarter-final penalty shootout.
Neymar had put Brazil 1-0 up in extra-time but the Croats responded and were then faultless from 12 yards to end South American hopes. It means the 31-year-old's best effort at the tournament was the semi-final he reached back in 2014 on home soil.
Before the tournament the PSG star said: "I think it (2022) will be my last World Cup. I am facing it like the last World Cup because I don't know whether I will be able to, mentally, to endure more soccer. I will do everything possible to get there very well. I will do all I can to win it with my country and realise my dream, the biggest since my boyhood."
In the immediate aftermath of the defeat to Croatia in December Neymat admitted he "can’t guarantee anything” when quizzed about his future with the national team, who last won the World Cup in 2002 when they were spearheaded by the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.
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Argentina eventually triumphed in Qatar with Neymar's team-mate Lionel Messi capturing the trophy that had eluded him throughout his career. The Argentines were able to play to the 35-year-old's strengths and Suarez believes Brazil could do likewise with Neymar.
The Brazilian has failed to lead his country to global gloryHe told Placar : "I believe he will come to the next one. I believe so. I haven't spoken to him, but I recommend you make the most of it and try, try... trying won't lose anything. See Messi aged 35 tried and got what he wanted. Brazil, if it wants to be world champion in the next [edition], has to do what Argentina did with Messi: put ten players who run and work for Neymar.
"That's what Argentina did. The difference, the technique, the mentality already have the stars and Messi is a star, he is the best in the world, and he won with his difference in details. These are things that have unique players, and Neymar has that too. If Brazil surrounds him with ten players who run and work, because Neymar will be 34 years old, he can do perfectly.
"This is something Brazil can do, can put all players to work for Neymar if they want Brazil and Neymar to get a World Cup. It is difficult? Yes, it's hard, but you have to work from now on."