Brazil coach Tite suggested Neymar has more influence in games for the Selecao than Paris Saint-Germain because at international level the team serves him more.
Neymar was in fine form as Brazil crushed South Korea 5-1 in a friendly on Thursday, with the PSG star scoring two penalties.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg with respect to his performance, as he pulled the strings and proved Brazil's biggest creative outlet.
His eight key passes was more than double the figure recorded by anyone else on the pitch, as South Korea failed to deal with him.
Neymar's showing in Seoul might be seen by some as a departure from his showings for PSG this term, with the Ligue 1 champions apparently willing to let him leave.
Tite thinks he can offer an explanation as to why Neymar may appear more important to Brazil.
"Neymar is a bow and an arrow, depending on the circumstances of the game," Tite told reporters. "He has that ability.
"At PSG, he often plays even a little deeper than Messi and Mbappe. Not here, he's more the arrow.
"He gets more rewards. The team works to give him this clarity, this creativity in this respect. We have a very supportive team."
Thursday's result was an impressive one, with Brazil creating a host of chances against the home side.
One aspect that particularly impressed Tite was their intensity despite having to adjust to the time zone.
"The Brazilian team has been at a [certain] performance level in recent games of ours," he continued.
"Doing this away from home – in a different environment and situation, with our internal clock, with the time zone – is difficult.
"I had to drink a load of coffee, and if you're not in the right frame of mind, it's hard to do that at this level of performance.
"I liked not only those in the starting XI, but also those who came on, even more so with some players coming on later and bringing that level of performance.
"I speak of the 'quick legs'. The more Fabio [Mahseredjian, Brazil fitness coach] puts in, the more the opponent wears out. Brazil had a pattern of performance in recent games."
Brazil will remain in the region for Monday's friendly against Japan in Tokyo.
Shaw, Brown headline 24-member squad called up for Reggae Girlz camp set for June 11-20
Concacaf Women’s Player of the Year, Khadija Shaw, and Florida State’s Jody Brown are among 24 women who were called up for a JFF camp, the federation announced on Saturday.
Shaw is coming off the best season of her career, so far, for Manchester City in which she scored 31 goals in 30 games in all competitions.
Brown has been instrumental in guiding the Seminoles to a 17-3-3 record so far this season.
The players will go into camp from June 11th to June 20th.
The full roster of players and staff is as follows:
Sydney Schneider, Rebecca Spencer, Liya Brooks, Allyson Swaby, Chantelle Swaby, Satara Murray, Konya Plummer, Deneisha Blackwood, Tiernny Wiltshire, Tiffany Cameron, Vyan Sampson, Peyton McNamara, Drew Spence, Atlanta Primus, Khadija Shaw, Jody Brown, Solai Washington, Kameron Simmonds, Kalyssa Van-Zanten, Trudi Carter, Rachel Jones, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Mikayla Dayes, Giselle Washington.
Crystal Walters (Team Manager), Lorne Donaldson (Head Coach), Laurie Thomas (Asst. Coach) Xavier Gilbert (Asst. Coach), Alyssa Whitehead (GK Coach), Sanford Carabin (Performance Analyst), Will Hitzelberger (Performance Staff), Dr. Gillian Lawrence (Team Doctor), Saundria Codling (Physiotherapist), Devin Lawson (Masseur), Omar "Twin" Folkes (Equipment Manager).
Attacking Postecoglou suits Spurs' style, says King
Ange Postecoglou has an attacking style of play that will suit Tottenham ideally, according to club icon Ledley King.
It was confirmed this week that Postecoglou will leave Celtic to take charge of Tottenham on a four-year contract.
The 57-year-old spent two years with the Scottish champions and departs after winning a domestic treble in 2022-23.
Australian Postecoglou will take charge of a Spurs team that struggled to eighth place in the Premier League and will not play in Europe next season.
But King is taking an optimistic stance about what can be achieved under the new Spurs boss.
"He is a very good manager and he had a fantastic time at Celtic," said King, who was speaking to Stats Perform at an exclusive kit launch event for Club and Nike Members held at Alexandra Palace.
"He is a front-foot manager who loves to play attacking football and score plenty of goals and I think he is someone that suits our style. Also, developing young players is really important.
"I'm looking forward to him starting his reign and I think it's important that we sorted it early. He's just finished the [Scottish Cup] final with Celtic and we've been able to get over the line, the deal has been sorted. Now we know what direction we're moving in.
"If I look through our history, we've always had players that want to go on the front foot, express themselves, and score goals – that has just been in the DNA of the football club.
"And, of course, to develop young players. We always have to see players given an opportunity. So I think for these reasons, it'd be a big hit with the fans.
"If you're an attacking player, the thought of that is fantastic. I know that players want to play, they want to play with the ball. They want to be dictating games – that is what players want to do.
"They want to play in a team that is enjoyable to play in and plays good, stylish football. We have a manager that plays that style.
"I'm sure the players are excited and will be looking forward to pre-season."
Conte was sacked in late March, with Cristian Stellini and then Ryan Mason taking temporary charge.
There was a dismal finish to the season, but King pointed out Tottenham had spent much of the campaign in the battle for a top-four finish and is hopeful there will be a prompt recovery from a disappointing year.
He added: "It was a difficult season. Obviously, there were a lot of different reasons.
"There's a World Cup that came in the middle of the season. Then Conte had a few health issues and he lost a coach during the season.
"So it was not an easy season, but I would say that the team, for most of the season, was in and around the top four.
"It is a talented group and now the new manager coming in has a chance to look at the whole group.
"The players that have been on loan get a chance to impress him and for him he has a chance to see who we can move forward with."
Live – Treble-chasing Manchester City face Inter Milan in Champions League final
1600 – Good afternoon and welcome to the PA news agency’s Champions League final blog. Stay here for all the build-up, key match action and post-game reaction as Manchester City and Inter Milan slog it out in Istanbul.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
