While World Cup expectations can vary from country to country and player to player, every individual who puts on his national team jersey feels pressure to perform for his country.
In spite of this, there are some generational talents who will be responsible for carrying the hopes of an entire nation this summer. Here's a list of the players under the most pressure for Russia 2018.
Most of the time when it’s a big player’s birthday their teams and fans will post cool photos of them and a best goals compilation. For example:
it's Coutinho's birthday! The Brazilian magician turns 26 today. pic.twitter.com/Bnjg3C16Jm
— (@Sakkax10) June 12, 2018
Brazil defeated Austria 3-0 in Vienna on Sunday in the nation’s final warm-up match before opening World Cup group play against Switzerland on June 17. The match was memorable for two reasons: (1) Thank Freddy Adu we’ll have VAR in Russia — Brazil’s opening goal was the sort of break you’d expect the Seleção to get at a World Cup (Gabriel Jesus was four yards offside), but not anymore — and (2) Neymar killed a man.
Every football fan remembers where they were when Brazil suffered humiliation at the hands of Germany during the last World Cup on their home turf. The 7-1 loss in the semifinals was undoubtedly one of the darkest days in the nation’s sporting history.
Last we saw Neymar on the soccer pitch he was crying as he was stretchered off the field in a Ligue 1 match. But the Brazilian is back, and if the Neymar goal vs Croatia is anything to go by, he’s ready for the World Cup.