World Cup: ‘He looks sluggish, off the pace’ – Craig Burley questions Neymar’s ability

Former Chelsea star, Craig Burley has raised concerns regarding Neymar Jr’s capacity to impact the Brazilian team following his substitution appearance in a 3-0 victory over Scotland on June 24.

Both fans and analysts have lamented the numerous injuries that have plagued Neymar throughout his career. 

Although he is regarded as one of the finest players of his generation, many argue that he has not fulfilled his complete potential due to frequent injuries that have sidelined him.

In the 76th minute of the match against Scotland, Neymar replaced Matheus Cunha, marking his first appearance for the Selecao since October 2023. 

The 34-year-old, who holds the record as his nation’s top goalscorer with 79 goals in 129 matches, was met with a warm ovation from the audience at Miami Stadium.

While many fans are thrilled to see him return to the field, doubts about his ability to contribute effectively to the team persist. Burley, who played for Chelsea from 1989 to 1997, discussed this issue during a recent segment on ESPN.

The Scotsman said, “When Neymar entered the game, there was considerable excitement among the crowd, both in the stadium and back in Brazil, regarding this iconic player… 

“However, if you are Joao Pedro or one of the others who were left out of the squad, you might be thinking, ‘this is merely a sentimental choice.’

“I understand he hasn’t had much playing time, but he appeared quite sluggish and out of sync. If Brazil needs to rely on him in the later stages of the tournament, can he genuinely come on and make a difference against stronger opponents? He even had difficulty against Scotland,” Burley further commented.

With seven points accumulated in the group stage, Brazil has advanced to the knockout phase as the leaders of Group C, surpassing Morocco on goal difference.