Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is taking a big risk for his team as they are off to face Germany in the semi finals of the FIFA World Cup. It has been reported that Brazil top scorer, Neymar, won't be able to play in the games for Brazil as he left injured on their quarterfinals games against Colombia. The 22 year old forward fractured his vertebra right after Colombian defender Camilo Zuniga hit his knee to his back during a tackle in the last few minutes of their game.
In lieu of this, Scolari had to make some major changes to his team having two of his most important players, inducing Thiago Silva, not be able to play. Report says that Brazil coach would most likely choose Bernard being the most untested member of his attacking player to replace Neymar. But who is this Bernard?
Bernard is a 21 year old Brazilian football player who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk, as a winger. He is a left sided player whose best asset is his speed and energy. He started his football career in 2006 where he joined Atlético Mineiro's youth system but he was then released because of his small height, his height measures 1.64 m. He started playing for the Brazilian National Football Team in September 2012 by coach Mano Menezes. He debut for the team in the same year as well. After being constantly called by manager Luiz Escolari, Bernard was drafted as one of the 23 players who will be comprising the Team Brazil in the 2014 World Cup.
Little is known about him and that could be the reason why Scolari chose him to take over Neymar's role. His speed and agility can be a great threat to the big men of Germany but hi statistics shows that he has scored only one goal for the national team.
When Bernard was asked about Neymar's injury he said "We were all very sad at the situation and also because Neymar was very sad. Of course, the whole group has felt his loss." He added "He is a big loss, not just as a player but also as a person. He is always smiling and saying positive things. But we have to be calm and overcome it. We know that we have other players who will be able to replace him."
