Neymar (Brazil) ruled out of World Cup with fractured vertebrae

Brazil’s forward Neymar lies on the pitch after being injured during the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Colombia on July 4 (Photo: AFP).

FORTALEZA (AFP) – Brazil on Friday, July 4 lost superstar striker Neymar for the World Cup after he fractured a vertebrae during his side’s 2-1 World Cup quarter final 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.

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.

A hospital exam “showed he suffered a fracture of the third vertebra” in his back, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told reporters.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari fumed that Neymar has been “hunted” throughout the tournament and that no punishment was given for the tackle on him.

“I have been saying for three matches that Neymar has been hunted, but all the other countries say it is not true and it is only their players that are hunted.”

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.

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.