DOHA: Brazil coach Tite believes Neymar is irreplaceable because his technical abilities are what empower the rest of the team.
Neymar was back in the starting XI for Monday's World Cup last-16 win over South Korea at Stadium 974 after injuring ankle ligaments on matchday one.
His participation for the rest of the tournament had been in doubt, but he returned and played a key role in the comfortable 4-1 victory, scoring a penalty that took him to within one goal of Pele's all-time record of 77.
Brazil were irresistible at times in the first half and Neymar was generally at the centre of their most promising attacks, even if he did not necessarily record an assist.
Before Monday, Brazil's performances had been functional if not spectacular, but Neymar's return was important for the fluidity of the rest of the team.
"He's a technical reference. This is technical leadership. When a team looks for the player, they know that they have a weapon there, [someone who can make] the difference," Tite said of the Paris Saint-Germain forward.
"Everyone has their own striking characteristics, but Neymar is the centre, the one who empowers the others."
With his early spot-kick, Neymar became the third Brazil player to score at three editions of the World Cup (2014, 2018 and 2022) after Pele and Ronaldo.
He also created two chances and stepped over the ball before Vinicius Junior coolly opened the scoring in the seventh minute, while only Casemiro and Raphinha – two players who finished the game – managed more than Neymar's 17 passes in the final third, highlighting his involvement in the Selecao's attacks.
Tite's assistant, Cesar Sampaio, believes having Neymar back also provides a mental boost to his team-mates on top of his technical excellence.
"Neymar for sure provides a competitive advantage, he makes a difference on pitch," he said.
"He's a driving force. I'm going round and round, beating around the bush to talk about him, but in a nutshell I'd like to congratulate our physios for their work.
"Neymar, besides his technical skills, he motivates the others and we are very happy to have him back. He had a great performance, he's recovered and ready for new challenges.
"He made important steps, and with him we can reach our full potential."
Brazil's victory set up a quarter-final clash with Croatia on Friday after Zlatko Dalic's men defeated Japan 3-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw earlier in the day.
Astro Arena
Mon Dec 05 2022
Neymar was back in the starting XI for Monday's World Cup last-16 win over South Korea at Stadium 974 after injuring ankle ligaments on matchday one. - Stadium Astro
Piala Dunia Sepak Takraw: Malaysia mudah tewaskan India, mara ke separuh akhir
Malaysia menepati ramalan mara ke peringkat separuh akhir acara berpasukan selepas mengetepikan cabaran India pada aksi suku akhir kejohanan Piala Dunia Sepak Takraw 2024.
Imigresen tumpas aktiviti pelacuran, tahan 51 warga asing
Jabatan Imigresen menahan 51 warga asing di sebuah pusat pelacuran dalam operasi khas di Jalan Pasar Baru, Kuala Lumpur pada Khamis.
Orang muda Malaysia perlu lantang bersuara bagi Palestin
Justeru, mengambil contoh langkah dilakukan mahasiswa di Amerika Syarikat, Ahli Majlis Hubungan Antarabangsa Palestin Dr Abdullah Waleed menyeru orang muda di Malaysia melakukan langkah yang sama, menyeru dunia memandang isu pembunuhan beramai-ramai di Gaza, sebagai sebuah krisis kemanusiaan.
Gudang bantuan di Gaza kini kosong
Ahli Majlis Hubungan Antarabangsa Palestin, Dr Abdullah Waleed berkata susulan halangan bantuan memasuki radah, tiada bantuan boleh memasuki bumi Gaza.
Korban rakyat Palestin meningkat kepada 35,857 orang
Angka korban rakyat Palestin meningkat kepada 35,857 dan 80,293 yang lain cedera menurut Kementerian Kesihatan Palestin.
AWANI Ringkas: Faisal Halim dibenar pulang hari ini atau esok
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Kerajaan bentang RUU Suruhanjaya Gig Julai ini - Anwar
Kerajaan akan membentangkan rang undang-undang berkaitan Suruhanjaya Gig di Parlimen pada Julai ini, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
3 bilik pembedahan di Pusat Jantung Serdang mula beroperasi Jun - Dr Dzulkefly
Sebanyak tiga daripada empat bilik pembedahan di Pusat Jantung Serdang (PJS), Selangor akan mula beroperasi untuk kegunaan pembedahan elektif dan kecemasan pada bulan hadapan (Jun).
Agong berkenan rasmi Hari Landskap Negara 2024
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim hari ini berkenan berangkat menyempurnakan perasmian Sambutan Hari Landskap Negara (HLN) 2024 di Taman Tasik Shah Alam di sini.
Ahmad Zahid tiba di Shanghai, teruskan lawatan rasmi di China
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tiba di sini hari ini, bagi meneruskan lawatan rasminya ke China yang bermula 22 Mei hingga 1 Jun.
Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 capai kejayaan dalam segenap aspek - Penganjur
Piala Dunia ke-22 berjaya menghimpukan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat yang berbeza budaya dan agama menyampaikan mesej keamanan melalui sukan.
Piala Dunia Qatar 2022: Pelanggan Pek Sukan Astro boleh akses sepenuhnya 64 perlawanan
Demam Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 semakin terasa apabila 32 pasukan bakal berentap bagi menjulang piala terulung dalam sukan bola sepak.
Kerajaan setuju RTM runding dapatkan hak penyiaran Piala Dunia 2022 - Annuar
Keputusan rundingan itu akan diketahui dalam masa terdekat.
RWC 2019: Rusia kecundang sekali lagi, dibelasah Samoa 9-34
Rusia mengalami kekalahan kedua dalam kempen Piala Dunia Ragbi 2019 selepas dibelasah Samoa 9-34 dalam perlawanan yang berlangsung di Stadium Ragbi Kumagaya, Jepun.
RWC 2019: England belasah Tonga 35-3
Pasukan rangking ketiga dunia England berjaya menumpaskan pasukan tangga ke 15 Tonga dengan kemenangan selesa 35 berbalas tiga dalam perlawanan di Sapporo Dome pada petang sabtu.
Debar sepak mula makin terasa, semangat #webelangtogether kian membara
Penyokong Malaysia dan Thailand mula membanjiri Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil bagi menyaksikan pertemuan separuh akhir pertama Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala AFF Suzuki 2018 malam ini.
'GRO Piala Dunia' dicekup
Bahang saingan bola sepak Piala Dunia yang semakin menghangatkan kini turut digunakan pusat hiburan bagi melariskan perniagaan mereka.
'Sejarah hitam' Lampard tahun 2010 permulaan detik bersejarah buat bola sepak
Peristiwa berkenaan menjadi kontroversi dalam dunia bola sepak dan juga menjadi detik bersejarah buat FIFA, di mana akhirnya FIFA memutuskan untuk memasukkan teknologi bantuan pengadil.
Toni Kroos wira kebangkitan Jerman
Toni Kroos menjadi wira Jerman apabila menjaringkan gol kemenangan dalam masa kecederaan untuk mencerahkan peluang pasukannya mara ke pusingan kalah mati.
De Gea akan bangkit, kata penolong jurulatih Sepanyol
Carlos Marchena berkata penjaga gol Sepanyol, David de Gea, masih mendapat sokongan daripada rakan sepasukan dan akan bangkit daripada kesilapan yang dilakukan ketika berdepan Portugal.