Brazil superstar Neymar has revealed that he would have loved the forthcoming World Cup to have been his second appearance on football’s biggest stage, after missing out on what would have been a sensational call-up for the tournament in South Africa four years ago.
Neymar, who would have been 18 at the time of the last competition, was not considered by then coach Dunga in a squad that largely disappointed, going out as they did at the quarter final stage, thanks to a double from Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder.
Neyar told the Gilette Brasil Global Tour: “I guess I was not ready yet, was not ready to be the face of selection. I would have loved to have been in the group, but it was the choice of the coach and we have to respect.”
“There was no bitterness, quite the contrary, I hoped very much for Brazil.”
Four years on and the Barcelona forward is the face of the World CUp in his home country, with much of Brazil’s extreme expectation harnessed upon his now 22 year-old shoulders.
