Neymar out of World Cup after breaking vertebra vs. Colombia
Brazil's team doctor says Neymar will miss the rest of the World Cup after breaking a vertebra during the team's quarterfinal win over Colombia.
Neymar was kneed in the back by Colombia defender Juan Camilo Zuniga in the second half of Brazil's 2-1 win, and was in tears when he was carried off the field on a stretcher.
He was taken to a local clinic and team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said after the match that the star striker had broken his third vertebrae. Neymar is the Brazil's biggest star and has scored four goals for the team so far in the tournament.
But he took a knee to the back late in the match against Colombia at the Arena Castelao in a collision with Juan Camilo Zuniga. The Brazilian star was crying in pain as he was carried off the field, and was taken to a private clinic.
''Along with the rest of Brazil I'm hoping for the recovery of our greatest player,'' Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff wrote on Twitter.
Brazil will definitely be without Silva for Tuesday's match againstGermany in Belo Horizonte. The captain must sit out after getting his second yellow card of the tournament for impeding Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.
Brazil, which is trying to become the first host to win the World Cup since France in 1998, had been eliminated in the quarterfinals at the last two World Cups. The ''Selecao'' lost to the Netherlandsin the quarterfinals in 2010 and to France in 2006 after winning its fifth title in 2002.
Silva gave Brazil the lead in the seventh minute, scoring with his left knee after a corner from Neymar passed through the Colombian defense. He celebrated the goal by pointing to the emblem on his jersey and shouting, ''This is Brazil, this is Brazil.''
Luiz added the second from a free kick in the 69th, sending a swerving long-range shot off the inside of his foot and into the top of the net.
Colombia got one back in the 80th. James Rodriguez scored his tournament-leading sixth goal from the penalty spot after Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar brought down substitute Carlos Bacca inside the area.
Rodriguez tried to control the pace of the match, but it was Brazil that created most of the scoring chances as Ospina had to make a series of saves in the first half alone.
The Colombians tried to pressure after Rodriguez's late penalty, but Brazil held on with solid defending.
''This is a very tough moment for us,'' Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said. ''We always had the dream of winning this match even though we knew Brazil would be a very tough opponent. We knew how decisive this was, and that any mistake would cost us.''
Colombia was coming off four straight wins, playing some of the most impressive football of the tournament. And the Colombians, playing in the quarterfinals for the first time, had entered the match after scoring 11 goals, second only to the Netherlands.
''After not playing in the World Cup for so long, we were able to show the value of the Colombian football and the talent of some of our players,'' said Pekerman, an Argentine. ''They showed great spirit and presence of mind. They came to play a great World Cup, not just to participate.''
There was a lot of talk about Rodriguez and Neymar before the match, but the 22-year-old forwards didn't really deliver. Rodriguez scored the late penalty but was otherwise mostly ineffective, as was Neymar before he left on a stretcher.
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