Romario doubts Neymar`s World Cup impact

Rio de Janeiro: Legendary striker Romario said he doubts whether Neymar will have a decisive impact on next year`s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The former Barcelona star questioned whether the 21-year-old Santos striker can repeat Romario`s own effort at the 1994 World Cup, when he led the team to victory in the United States with five goals. "Neymar can help Brazil to be champion, but I don`t see him doing what I did in 1994, Pele in his three World Cups or Maradona in 1986," Romario said on Saturday. Romario, now a federal deputy for Brazil`s Socialist Party, said the December appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari as national coach and Carlos Alberto Parreira as his technical director were a positive step forward. Scolari coached Brazil`s triumphant 2002 World Cup-winning team while Parreira did likewise in 1994. "Right now Brazil doesn`t have the team to win anything. But it does have time. In football a lot can change in one year, especially in the current situation, because people respect the new coaching staff. I think Parreira and Felipao can help the national team. The players know that they were involved in Brazil`s most recent World Cup successes," Romario said. IANS