Neymar: Injured Brazil forward ruled out of World Cup
Brazil forward Neymar has been ruled out of the World Cup after being injured in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia.
The 22-year-old was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital after being kneed in the back by Juan Zuniga.
A team doctor confirmed the Barcelona player fractured a vertebra in his back.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "Neymar was going to be hunted. For three matches that has been happening."
Analysis
"Brazil will be without their two most important players against Germany.
"Neymar is a huge loss but it opens up a chance for someone else and I would expect Willian to get his opportunity now."
Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told Brazil's SportTV: "Unfortunately, he's not going to be able to play.
"It's not serious in the sense that it doesn't need surgery, but he'll need to immobilise it to recover."
Lasmar added that he expected the recovery period to take at least a few weeks.
Neymar recovered from thigh and knee injuries sustained in the second-round win over Chile to play against Colombia.
He has featured in all five of Brazil's matches at the 2014 Fifa World Cup and is their top scorer with four goals.
Neymar had a quiet game in Fortaleza and was replaced in the 88th minute when Colombia defender Juan Zuniga challenged him in an incident that went unpunished by referee Carlos Velasco Carballo.
Neymar at the World Cup |
|
|---|---|
|
Matches played |
5 |
|
Minutes played |
457 |
|
Attempts on target |
72.2% |
|
Goals scored |
4 |
|
Assists |
1 |
Scolari said: "Not even a yellow card, nothing.
"People think Germany, these or the others, only they are hunted but not Neymar."
Watch Neymar's long-range equaliser for Brazil against Croatia in Group A
Thiago Silva's early goal and a stunning David Luiz free-kick in the second half set up victory for Brazil, who withstood a late Colombia onslaught that saw James Rodriguez score an 80th-minute penalty.
Brazil meet Germany in the semi-final in Belo Horizonte at 21:00 BST on Tuesday, a game that will be shown live on BBC One.
Captain Thiago Silva will also miss that game through suspension after picking up a second booking of the tournament.
The final will be held at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, 13 July.
Neymar was challenged by Napoli defender Juan Zuniga late in the game.
The forward was in pain and in tears after the incident.
Brazil will now be without top scorer Neymar and suspended captain Thiago Silva against Germany
The Barcelona forward had scored four goals in the group stage of the World Cup.
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