Part 5/6:
Compounding the struggles of Santos and Neymar's performance was the discussion about the quality of the match ball itself. Prominent players, including Felipe Luiz, have publicly criticized the ball, iterating that it does not support fair play and player performance. This sentiment echoed widely, as players who interact directly with the equipment were vocal about its inadequacies.
Commentators debated whether the state of the ball should overshadow or serve as an excuse for teams’ performances, suggesting that while the ball might have issues, it is ultimately the team's responsibility to adapt and perform.