Neymar Laments Growing Apathy Towards Brazil National Team
Paris Saint Germain forward Neymar feels there is a growing apathy towards the Brazil national team back in his home country.
Brazil have already booked their spot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar later this year.
The Selecao lost the final of the 2021 Copa America on home soil to bitterest rivals Argentina last summer and infamously suffered a 7-1 defeat to eventual champions Germany in the semi-finals of the World Cup when they hosted the tournament in 2014.
"Today the national team has distanced itself from the fans, I don't know why, but I see it through the games," Neymar told Ronaldo Nazario on the Fenomenos podcast.
"There is little comment, few people know when we are going to play. And that's bad, it's sad. In this generation of mine, when the national team plays, it's no longer important.
"When I was a child, the national team match was an event. You put the Brazilian flag in the window. There was a barbecue, there was cake and there was everything at home. It was quite an event.
"Today it no longer has that importance, I don't know how we got to this stage. I hope that everything will come back, that the fans will once again support the Brazilian team.
"That we'll be together to go in search of the World Cup, which is what everyone wants."
Neymar has recently returned from an ankle injury for club side PSG after two months out and scored in a 3-1 defeat to Nantes over the weekend, though he also missed a penalty.
