World Cup: Without Neymar, Oscar Holds The Key To Brazil

When Neymar suffered a fractured lumbar vertebra at the hands of Juan Zuñiga, and was ruled out for the World Cup, many questioned how Brazil would attack without their most creative offensive weapon.

I think the answer is easy:  Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior.

So far during this tournament Oscar has been asked, to control the possession and work at both ends of the pitch.  He has needed to be both a creator and a stopper.  In order to ensure his play on the defensive side of the field does not suffer, he has handed much of the responsibility of the attack to Neymar.  And it has been Neymar getting the first few touches of the ball as Brazil enters their attacking third, looking to score.

Because of this role that Luiz Felipe Scolari gave him, I think many have labelled Oscar’s play in the World Cup as “sub-par.”

Now, with Neymar out, I think the world is about the see the Oscar that Chelsea fans have grown to know and love.  Oscar is likely going to be given the keys to the Seleção attack and I think he is going to shine.

Leading this specific Brazil attack is not nearly as easy as it once was.  Gone are the days of Ronaldo and Romario up top and striking fear into the opponents back-line.  Oscar will be tasked of getting Fred and Jô, who have been quite underwhelming up to this point, on the score sheet.  

Oscar will also have the added difficulty of having to do so against a stingy German defense lead by Mats Hummels, Philipp Lahm, and Manuel Neuer that has conceded only 3 goals throughout the entire tournament.

Even with all of that, I still think that Oscar is ready for this.  If you think back to the fall of 2013, Oscar was Chelsea’s best player.   He lead an attack, without a “go-to” striker, that produced many early results for Chelsea and put them in position to win the Premier League.

Oscar is ready for this and the whole world will be watching.

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