Tite Concedes Brazil ‘Miss Neymar’ Despite Sealing Progress

Brazil head coach Tite admits his side miss the injured Neymar despite earning a 1-0 win over Switzerland without him on Monday.

Casemiro came up with an 83rd minute winner, after Vinicius Junior had had a goal disallowed for offside.

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar missed the game due to an ankle injury sustained in Brazil’s opener against Serbia.

“Neymar has a different skillset,” Tite told reporters. “He is a player in a magical moment and can dribble past one and another – he has that skill.

“Other players are getting to Neymar’s level and I hope they get there. So we miss Neymar, we do miss him, he has a big creative power, he’s very offensive, we miss him.

“But there other athletes we saw at the beginning who took the opportunity.”

Brazil had 13-6 shots, albeit from marginally more possession (54-46 per cent), with the Swiss unable to have any shots on target.

Tite added: “(Without Neymar) the system will be maintained. (How was the) First match without Neymar? You chose Casemiro as Man of the Match.”

Brazil defender Marquinhos added that Neymar’s absence was felt, despite the win sealing their spot in the last 16.

“We know that Neymar is a great player and that he makes a difference,” Marquinhos said. “In difficult moments he takes on the responsibility and creates the opportunities, but we showed once again that we have quality players to make up for his absence.”