Brazil paid a heavy price for
their 2-1 quarter-final
defeat of Colombia in
Fortaleza on Friday, with
star man neymar suffering a
fractured vertebra that will
cause him to miss the rest
of the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Brazil™.
After being carried off in
tears on a stretcher, neymar
was taken to the city’s
Hospital Sao Carlos, where it
was confirmed that his third
vertebra had been broken.
The news that neither his
team nor his country
wanted to hear was
announced by the Brazil’s
medical staff at the Estadio
Castelao.
“neymar had a scan, which
confirmed he had fractured
his third vertebra,” said
Brazilian Football
Association (CBF) doctor
Rodrigo Lasmar. “In terms
of the recovery process, it’s
a fracture that heals quickly,
but unfortunately he’ll be in
no condition to play next
week.”
Lasmar added: “It’s not
serious in the sense that it
requires surgery, but he’s in
pain and he’ll need to
immobilise it to recover. He’ll
have to have it immobilised
with a belt for a few weeks
to be able to get back to full
mobility.”
neymar sustained the injury
in the closing stages of the
match, under a challenge
from a Colombian defender.
The sight of the stricken
No10 being carried off and
then taken to hospital for
scans dampened the spirits
of the Brazil fans as they
celebrated their side’s
qualification for the last
four.
While the confirmation that
neymar’s tournament is
over was greeted with
dismay and sadness, his
team-mates are already
thinking about how to
make up for his absence,
Hulk among them. “It’s very
sad news,” said the
forward. “Nobody expected
this.
“We are delighted with the
win but sad about this
news. It’s all very frustrating.
neymar really looks after
himself. He was so excited
about the World Cup and
he’d helped us so much. We
have to get over this and
run even harder for him.
We’re going to try and be
the champions anyway and
dedicate the title to him.”
neymar has been one of A
Seleção’s stand-out
performers at the World
Cup, scoring four goals, but
will now have to watch
from the sidelines when
Brazil take on Germany in
next Tuesday’s semi-final in
Belo Horizonte.
