Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has revealed that Neymar feared he was paralysed in the moments after the challenge that put him out of the rest of the World Cup. Scolari told Marca that panic spread amongst the Brazilian side as Neymar told teammate Marcelo: “I can’t feel my legs.”
"Marcelo was scared and called the doctor on but the doctor couldn’t get on in the confusion. It was a big shock, the image of Neymar being stretchered off to the helicopter, in difficulty, crying," Scolari said.
A challenge from Colombia defender Juan Zuniga sent Neymar to the ground during Friday night’s quarter final in Fortaleza. The Barcelona man was taken from the pitch on a stretcher and a scan later revealed he had fractured a vertebra, ruling him out of playing for 4-6 weeks, and the remainder of the World Cup.
Neymar’s absence is a major blow to Brazil, who face Germany in the semi-final on Tuesday. Brazil have relied heavily on the 22 year old in the tournament and the weight of pressure on the home side will only grow more oppressive as they take to the pitch on Tuesday without the player who has looked their most potent attacking threat and scored 4 goals in the tournament so far.
“Neymar was our benchmark, one of our references because he is a player who makes a difference in any team. We’re in a situation where we’ve lost something we don’t want to miss, especially for the semi-final and final,” Scolari said.
