2) Relieve Neymar of the captaincy
Neymar Jr. is Brazil’s great big hope – recall the national distress that surrounded the Barcelona forward’s injury during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. While the 24-year-old has shown signs of maturity, such as stepping up for Barcelona in Leo Messi’s two-month absence, he is still prone to bouts of petulance.
One can hardly blame Neymar though, the pressure on him is intense – not to mention that Dunga annointed him with the crown of thorns as Brazil’s captain. It’s visible when Neymar takes to the pitch for Brazil – he tries to do too much, and he tries to do it alone – witness the first two games of Brazil’s 2016 Olympic campaign.
Brazil aren’t short of experienced leaders to take the armband, indeed one of the best candidates has been frozen out of the squad – Thiago Silva. Giving the PSG man the armband can solve two problems – the side are less likely to capitulate when things go wrong – with Silva a calm and forceful leader (notwithstanding his earlier breakdown), while freeing Neymar from what is quickly becoming a burden.
Without the armband constraining him, Neymar will be free to be the ‘luxury’ player Brazil have – the one who can spark moments of magic that can win a game for the Selecao, while not being the only hope upon which things rest.
