Neymar repeats fate of other Santos players at World Cups | OneFootball

Neymar Jr will represent Santos at the World Cup, ending a 16-year wait for a club representative in Brazil's squad. The No 10 is recovering from a grade two calf injury and is expected to miss Panama and Egypt friendlies while working to be ready for the opener.

According to Diario Do Peixe, Brazil have not cut him, and the situation has precedents at Santos. In 1958 Pelé was hurt in a friendly against Corinthians, stayed in the squad and debuted in the third match against the Soviet Union.

Pepe was injured before the tournament, losing his place as Zagallo stepped in and Brazil won their first title. In 1962 he was hurt again shortly before the tournament, registered but unable to recover, so Zagallo kept the left wing.

Coutinho was then injured in the next Wales friendly, asked to be cut but stayed, did not recover, and Vavá took over. When Pelé was injured in Brazil's second game, Amarildo filled in and helped secure the title.

Santos still shaped that triumph through Gylmar, Mauro Ramos and Zito, who scored in the final against Czechoslovakia and made the team of the tournament. In 1966 Zito was injured before the finals, was not cut and later rued travelling unfit.

Before 1970, coach João Saldanha said Santos hid players' fitness, yet still called Pelé, Carlos Alberto Torres, Clodoaldo, Edu and Joel Camargo. In 1986, Uruguay goalkeeper Rodolfo Rodríguez was injured on the eve of the World Cup and did not play.

Source: Diario Do Peixe