Brazil striker Neymar ruled out of World Cup after injuring his third vertebra
With tears streaming down his face after being kneed in the back, Neymar was carried off the field on a stretcher. He won't be coming back. Not to this World Cup, anyway.
The 22-year-old Brazil striker, the one with the hopes of a nation on his shoulders, was ruled out of the rest of the tournament after fracturing his third vertebra, an injury he sustained just two minutes before the games was end in Friday's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Colombia.
Colombia defender Juan Zuniga kneed the 22-year-old Neymar in a crunching tackle and the Barcelona player was stretchered off in agony in the closing minutes of the game in Forteleza.
A hospital exam showed he suffered a fracture of the third vertebra in his back, team doctor Rodrigo lasmar told reporters.
A fumil Brazil coach luiz Felipe Scolari said that Neymar had been hunted throughout the tournament and that no punishment was given for the tackle on him.
"Everybody knew that Neymar would be hunted,” Scolari said. “It's been happening in the last three matches and we had been talking about it. But nobody listens to us,” he added.
Silva was booked for a second time in the tournament for impeding a clearance by Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina. But in Zuniga’s case there was not even a yellow card and Thiago got a yellow card for nothing, Scolari said.
The injury and the suspension of captain Thiago Silva for the semi-final against Germany overshadowed a sensational David luiz goal that sealed victory in one of the most physical games seen at this World Cup till now.
Brazil are in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 12 years, but Scolari, who has vowed his side will win their sixth World Cup, now faces a major crisis with his main two missing for the crucial semifinal game against Germany who have so far been the team to beat in the tournament.
“It's a big loss for us,” Brazil midfielder Fernandinho said. “We need to find a way to stay together and become stronger after losing our greatest player. We will try to win this World Cup and for sure we will dedicate it to Neymar.”
Neymar is the biggest football star in Brazil, and one of the biggest at the tournament along with Argentina forward lionel Messi, joint leader with the icon with four goals so far. His face has been plastered on billboards and shown on television continuously, leading many of his staunchest supporters to copy his dyed-blonde fauxhawk.
His millions of fans had expected Neymar's World Cup to end with him holding the trophy, not being carried off the field in tears. He was taken to a private clinic and released a short time later.
He will not be needing surgery, Brazil team doctor Rodrigo lasmar said, but will also not be able to face Germany on Tuesday in the World Cup semifinals as he needs to be immobilised for recovery, which the doctor added, would take four weeks at the minimum.
“He will not be in condition to play, he will need a few weeks to be fit again. He is very, very sad, lasmar said.
About 50 Brazil fans, many still wearing the team's jerseys, crowded outside the clinic where Neymar was taken, while the ambulance that carried him remained parked in front, lights blazing.
Neymar returned to Brazil's training camp and then flew back to Rio de Janeiro with the rest of his Brazil teammates. Neymar was hurt in the 86th minute, falling to the ground in pain after Zuniga jumped into him from behind.
Brazil teammate Marcelo quickly called for medical assistance when he saw Neymar writhing in pain. Neymar stayed face down until team doctors arrived and put him on a stretcher.
Friday’s match ended with 54 fouls in total — 31 by Brazil and 23 by Colombia. Scolari said Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo should have done more to take control of the match.
According to Hulk, another of Brazil’s striker, Neymar needs more protection from the officials. “Every time is like this. Players always come after Neymar. The referees need to do more to keep this from happening,” he added.