Something strange is going on with Brazil's Olympic football team. In a total sporting turn-around, star player Neymar has so far shown himself worthy only of the title of king of errant passes and lost balls.

In the most recent Olympic match against South Africa, Neymar's game was dominated by a lack of rhythm throughout and an all round shaky performance.

Watching the match, you might even ask yourself if the team's score and Neymar's on-pitch difficulties have anything to do with his recent holidays... But perhaps, that's a question for the football star himself.

Many retain an exaggerated optimism and still consider Brazil a favourite. For them, if the team does not win the gold medal it will be a fiasco. However, many others are arriving at the second round with doubts about the team and about Neymar's perfomance.

Brazil is bipolar.

The fault of the rocky start is not due to lack of talent, or even Neymar's pre-season. The preparation with three different coaches and four newcomers last Saturday (30), against Japan, shows that Brazil's team are not playing as a coherent unit.

Expectations breed frustrations. The Brazilian team went to Brasilia victorious, as if they had already won the gold medal.

But there is still a tournament to be won and a team to put together.

The crisis of Brazilian teams forces us to remember that you can only create a powerful, united side with serious training. But we remain obsessed with individual players, individual talent, as if together, without needing to try, these individuals will automatically form a super-team.

Brazil was frustrated from the get-go, but could still stand victorious on the podium. For this, the team needs to make the most of every training session, every opportunity to play.

The medal Brazil dreams of will only become reality if, over the next two weeks, good players come together to form a good team.

Translated by GILLIAN SOPHIE HARRIS

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