Rio de Janeiro, May 29 - The head coach of Brazil's national football team has voiced praise for star striker Neymar who according to him has emerged a stronger and more mature player after his first season at Barcelona.

"Neymar is better now than during last year's Confederations Cup, when he led Brazil to victory by winning the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player. He has grown not only in the physical sense but also with more experience," Xinhua quoted Paulo Paixo as saying.

Paixao said, "We are going to see a player who is sure of himself, mature and conscious of what he needs to do."

Neymar joined FC Barcelona from Brazilian football club Santos for a transfer fee of 57 million euros in June last year.

Despite suffering from a series of injuries, he scored 17 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions in his debut season at the Camp Nou.

Brazil, drawn in Group A with Cameroon, Mexico and Croatia, begin their World Cup campaign in Sao Paulo June 12. (IANS)