Weekly Football News, June 28 2013
Neymar proving himself to be a star signing with his Confed Cup performances
There's no doubt the star of the 2013 Confederations Cup is Neymar. He is adored by his home crowd and he is performing up to billing. For many, this has been the first chance for an extended look at Barcelona's new star beyond the YouTube highlights clips and he is answering a lot of questions. Putting aside doubts and stealing the show.
Barcelona are believed to have spent at least £50 million - perhaps £60 million - on getting Neymar from Santos. There were inevitable questions by those football betting for profit; How will he fare in Europe? Is it one thing running around Brazilian defenders and another doing it in the Champions League? Is he tough enough to play in Europe? Can he consistently deliver?
He is doing his best to answer all of those and more. What's most impressive is that with the dazzling variety of trickery, invention and goals, is that he has stepped in to the role of star man effortlessly. He's only 21 and yet is carrying the biggest football nation in the world on his back, and doing it with success.
The tone was set with his goal after three minutes against Japan in the opening game, a beautifully crisp and technically elegant volley, and then repeated that trick against Mexico. Despite those two wonderful goals, it will be his drag back skill to set up Jo's second in that game that will be long remembered. He then followed that up with a beautiful free kick against Italy to demonstrate his entire attacking threat.
To have scored against three teams from three different continents, especially running the Italians ragged, shows that Neymar is not just a dominator of poor defences. Not just a flat track bully. He has looked every inch the star for Brazil in every game he plays. Barcelona fans will be salivating to see him in blue and red.
One of the questions that was asked on signing Neymar was how he and Lionel Messi could mesh. Neymar's performances at the Confederations Cup have put those to bed.
Playing out on the left on the three man attack is exactly where he will play for Barcelona and he has kept positional discipline and width whilst showing his ability to come inside and score goals. He and Messi look like complimenting each other superbly and creating chaos together for Barcelona.
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Johan Cruyff - 27 March World Soccer News - This week Johan Cruyff, Roberto Mancini and Ronaldo are all in the news.
No To Goal Line Technology - 15 March World Soccer News - This week Fifa reject goal line technology and Didier Drogba is named African footballer of the year.
