Tactical Analysis: How can Brazil cope with the absence of Neymar?

How will Scolari react to the absence of Neymar?

Although Brazil have looked far from convincing in their run to the semifinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, they had one player who could turn the game on its head, someone from the great Brazilian production line of attacking talent. And that someone is currently on the treatment table with a broken vertebra and will miss the rest of the World Cup.

If you look at the national sides over the past few decades, nobody has produced as many world class attacking players as Brazil have. Whether it was Zico and Socrates in the 1980s, Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo in the 90s or more recently Kaka and Ronaldinho, Brazil have always had some world class attacking talent. So it is certainly a surprise to see a Brazilian side that is so starved of attacking quality that all the burden of creativity rested on a solitary player.

While it is difficult to say that Brazil are a one-man team, the fact that they have been a one-man attack so far is undeniable. So the injury to that one man, Neymar, is certainly a big blow to Brazil’s chances against Germany. Although their captain Thiago Silva is also suspended, in Dante they at least have an adequate like-for-like replacement. Unfortunately for Brazil, they have nothing of that sort for Neymar.

As a result, Luiz Felipe Scolari will now have to completely re-format his tactics and take an altogether different approach to the one he has been taking so far if he is to win his second and Brazil’s sixth World Cup. Does he have any viable alternatives? Scolari certainly has two cards up his sleeve, one of which he will have to use against Germany on Tuesday. What are they? Will they prove to be a success? Just read on.

Stick to the 4-2-3-1 and introduce another winger

Stick to 4-2-3-1 with Willian in place of Neymar

If Scolari wants to maintain the 4-2-3-1 system he has used throughout the tournament then he only has one option. And that is to bring in another attacking player in either Bernard or Willian to play on the wings. Who he chooses will determine how Brazil will set up against Germany. If Bernard is the player chosen, Scolari is likely to stick with Oscar as the central attacking midfielder with Hulk on the right and Bernard on the left.

If it is Willian, the only change will be that Hulk will play on the left, while Willian steps into his more preferred right wing role.

Although both players play on the wing, they are completely different in how they operate. Willian is a more hard-working player, someone who is good on the break and is effective at finding his team mates, while the diminutive Bernard is a tricky winger who relies on his skill to get past his opponent and isn’t renowned for tracking back.

With Scolari likely to go with a solid and functional player, Willian is the most likely choice. His industry on the wings will endear him to Scolari as he strives to create a hard-working functional side to beat the clinical Germans. However, if he feels that neither can effectively replace Neymar’s star quality then he can certainly go for another formation, which is more fluid and dynamic.

Deploy a 4-3-3

4-3-3 with Ramires as the more attacking midfielder

Should Scolari stick with his 4-2-3-1 system against Germany, his side is likely to be overrun in central midfield as the Germans have a triumvirate of central midfielders who are adept at both winning and keeping hold of the ball. If the manager doesn’t want this to happen, then he must replace Neymar by adding another central midfielder. If he does go for a 4-3-3, then Oscar will take Neymar’s place on the left flank, with Fred and Hulk retaining their positions and making up the rest of the front three.

With Luiz Gustavo expected to come back from suspension, he will surely slot in alongside Fernandinho. The identity of the other central midfielder will decide how Brazil want to play. If Scolari chooses the more hard-working Paulinho, then it is likely that Brazil employ the physical and aggressive tactics they employed against Colombia in the quarter-final.

On the other hand, if he goes for the more energetic Ramires, Scolari will have the option of switching between a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. Ramires’ industry and versatility means that he is more than capable of shuttling between his defensive and offensive duties. The Chelsea midfielder’s addition will also give the side much more fluidity and flexibility not just in terms of tactics but in terms of personnel as well.

Whichever formation Brazil employ, the absence of Neymar will surely deter their attack. But if the rest of the team are galvanized as a result of it and produce a dogged defensive display, then maybe just maybe, that might be enough. Even then, if the game goes to penalties, few would bet against the Germans from notching up another shootout victory. So for Brazil to go through, they need to ensure that the game doesn’t go to penalties and hope that their defence holds fort for long enough for the attack to nick a goal from a set-piece.