BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Brazil's Daniel Alves wagers Neymar will own the World Cup

Record ID: 694973

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Brazil's Daniel Alves wagers Neymar will own the World Cup
  • Date: 21st May 2014
  • Summary: CLOSE-UP OF POSTER WITH BRAZIL'S NATIONAL COACH LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI, PAULINHO AND OSCAR
  • Embargoed: 5th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZJ62GRDQZA0DK63V32YW8SJI
  • Story Text: Brazilian national soccer player Daniel Alvez said on Tuesday (May 20) that he is wagering that his gifted teammate Neymar will own this year's World Cup which begins in just 23 days.
    Neymar is considered one of the world's top soccer players.
    The host nation are favourites to lift a record sixth World Cup but they will face massive pressure from their often fickle fans.
    When asked who would own this year's tournament, Alvez said that while other players could "dominate" his money is on his fellow FC Barcelona teammate and Brazil's standout striker Neymar.
    "I am wagering on it being his (Neymar) World Cup because he plays on my team. But I think that there are other players that could dominate, I am sure of that. Like I have said before before the Brazilian team isn't something that is just us players it's all of us Brazilians. I am also sure that us players need to do what is necessary to facilitate Neymar because he is a difference maker," Alvez said.
    Brazil still has two warm up matches to play before the World Cup begins on June 12, against Panama in Goiania on June 3 and then Serbia in Sao Paulo on June 6.
    The articulate Chelsea defender David Luiz said that his team was working together to avoid letting anxiety get in the way of coming out strong in the tournament opener.
    "I think that in life we have to try and find the balance in all things including anxiety. Up to a certain point I think that it is positive, you stay in the game, living it, thinking about it. Too out of balance is not a good thing. So, I think we have to work on this together and that makes it easier, you lead by talking amongst each other every day. The group is really open. Everyone has the right to give their opinion. Everyone is going to help with this so that it doesn't get in the way of a good opening," Luiz said.
    Barcelona's Daniel Alves said that judging how well the World Cup went and Brazil's success hosting the quadrennial tournament will have to be left until after competition and not before.
    "The checks and balance we will have to do at the end. At the end of competition we will look at the balance, it was a disaster or it wasn't a disaster, or if it was the best World Cup. As a Brazilian that understands his people and how they live soccer, how passionate they are for this sport, I believe that we are going to do the best World Cup," Alvez said.
    Brazil kick off the World Cup against Croatia in Sao Paulo and then face Mexico and Cameroon in their other Group A games.
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