Neymar’s Departure From National Team Shows Golden Age Of Brazilian Soccer Is Over

Brazil sunk to a new low in international football after failing to advance past the group stage in the Copa America for the first time in nearly 30 years.

They’re trash compared to the Brazil we’re used to seeing.

Pegged as a pre-tournament favorite, the five-time World Cup champs were eliminated during group play following a 1-0 loss to Peru.

Brazil’s Copa America was doomed from the start. The soccer gods cast a curse on Brazil before the tournament. They did Brazil like Lil B did Kevin Durant.

KEVIN DURANT WILL NEVER WIN THE TITLE AFTER HE SAID “LIL B” IS A WACK RAPPER,

“THE BASEDGODS CURSE”#THEBASEDGODSCURSE ON DURANT – Lil B

— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) May 26, 2011

The curse manifested itself in the form of Barcelona making Neymar, Brazil’s best player, choose between playing in the Olympics and playing in the Copa América.

Given that the Olympics are on the verge of collapse under Brazil’s watch, Neymar couldn’t very well skip the Olympics.

Without Neymar, Brazil lacks the star power that we’ve come to associate with their soccer team. Greats like Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaká are nowhere to be found.

And when it rains, it pours.

Brazil was eliminated on a controversial goal that looked to be a clear hand ball.

But they should have never been in a position where one bad call can send them packing. It’s not like Brazil had to fight their way through a Group of Death.

Peru, Ecuador, and Haiti aren’t exactly a who’s who of world football.

Once alone on the mountaintop as the greatest footballing nation on earth, Brazil has fallen a long way. They haven’t been a world power since winning the World Cup in 2002.

Brazil has long since ceded its throne to the likes of Spain, and more recently, Germany.

The derth of superstars not named Neymar is one of the main factors in Brazil’s demise as a soccer superpower.

Willian and Coutinho are two standouts in the English Premier League, but the Copa América proved that they don’t have what it takes to carry Brazil without Neymar.

Dunga will probably be fired as Brazil’s coach sooner rather than later, after failing to deliver a title at home in the 2014 World Cup and then falling flat in the Copa América Centenario.

Perhaps that’s what needed for Brazil to begin the rebuilding process and retake their position at the top of the footballing hierarchy.