Brazil superstar Neymar will miss the remainder of the World Cup with a broken bone in his back, according to team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar.
The 22-year-old, who had scored four goals in four earlier matches lead his country to the quarter-finals.
He was stretchered off in the closing stages of the match in the match against Colombia which they won 2-1. The gravity of the injury was such that he was rushed to the hospital. Later the team doctor told the media Neymar will be out of action for at least four weeks. The World Cup 2014 for this youngster is over.
Brazil will now have to try and win the trophy without him kicking the ball. Brazilians will think that this caused more damage to its cause that the collapse of the flyover recently.
The preliminary tests evidenced that injury caused a bone of his back broken. It may not need a surgery. Further tests will confirm how long it will take for recovery. The first diagnosis indicated that Brazilian Youngster will not be able to take any further part in the world cup. The exact time before he can even kick a ball may be four to six weeks but that too also can only be confirmed through further test according to the team doctor.
Neymar had been struggling in the build-up to the all-South American clash with thigh and knee strains but was passed fit to start. He was carried off three minutes from the end after Juan Zuniga's knee landed in his lower back leaving him in tears.
Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Soclari, speaking before Lasmar's interview, said: 'I don't think he'll be able to play in the next match.”
'He was sent to a private clinic with the doctor because he was kneed in his lower back. He was crying in pain. It won't be easy for him to recover based on the fact that it's a back injury and with the pain he's in. But he is young, he has energy, he leads his life the right way and does all the right things. Let’s wait for the examination and see if there is something in the next 48 hours that can be done. In my opinion it’s going to be difficult.” Scholari added.
Neymar’s absence will cause serious handicap to Brazil’s cause in HEXA mission. First they have to play Germany in the semifinal and if they manage to they will be waiting for the winner coming from the other side which may be either Argentina or Netherlands. It will be a serious challenge for Brazil.
It is a sad episode as billions of soccer fans across was waiting eagerly to watch a dream final featuring Argentina and Brazil at Maracana. Now even if that happens, Brazil will be significantly depleted without their main weapon Neymar. Neymar being stretchered off the field brought into memory of Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pele carried out like this in 1966 World Cup in England. Brazil’s dream of winning the third Jules Rimet Trophy back to back after 1958 and 1966 was all but over.
**Neymar out of World Cup
BDST: 0915 HRS, JUL 05, 2014
