WORLD CUP HOSTS Brazil were rocked last night as star forward Neymar fractured a verterbra, ruling him out of the remainder of the tournament.
Goals from Thiago Silva and David Luiz earned a 2-1 win over Colombia and set up a semi-final date against Germany, but the celebrations were tempered as the country came to terms with Neymar’s injury.
Here’s what they are saying:
Luis Felipe Scolari, Brazil manager
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.
Juan Camilo Zuniga, Colombian defender
I’ve never tried to harm another player. When I’m on the pitch I’m there to defend my country and my shirt — but there’s no intention to hurt anyone.
Thiago Silva, Brazil captain
Potentially this situation can mark a revolution for us, like ‘let’s win the Cup for Neymar’. This could help bring together the team even more.”
Dilma Roussef, Brazilian president
All of our support to Neymar.
Lance!
“Play for him”
Diego Maradona
It concerns not only the Brazilian people but all of us who love football. It was his World Cup, in his country. He had great hopes.
Scolari, you reap what you sow.
The only player ‘hunted’ last night was James Rodriguez
Brazil had no chance anyway but what planet is Scolari on.
He’s the one who sent out a team of hatchet men to batter a 22 year who showed he is more of a man than the entire Brazil team.
Have to agree to a point. The rest of the Colombian squad were fair game too. Disgraceful refereeing last night. Stinks to high heaven
On scolari’s orders,
Rodriguez was lucky not to be ate alive by a Brazilian, or that huge grasshopper that landed on his shoulder
If I was carrying hulk, Fred and Jo for the last 3 weeks my back would be knackered too
The arrogance from Scolari is astounding.He clearly sent his players out to do the job on James.The Colombians responded to the Brazilian thuggery,and Neymar paid the price.I find it hard to feel sorry for Neymar and I’ll be happy when somebody(hopefully German) knocks this sorry excuse of a Brazil side out.Who the hell would want to see jokers like Fred and Joe win a world cup.,It would be devastating for football.
Agree 100% I always remember growing up people wanting Brazil to do well. They always seemed to have decent, honest, hard working, talented, passionate and all importantly their skill on the pitch enthralled. This shower are nothing like any Brazil team from the past. They are a cynical shower of hatchet men and divers. Apart from Neymar its hard to associate any of these players with Brazilian football teams of the past. As for Adolf Scholari on the side line claiming every single throw in, abusing linesmen and refs and looking every single tackle on one of his players to end up with a card for the opposition. Absolutely disgraceful behaviour. Here is hoping the Germans hammer them in the semi finals. Its going to take a special ref to help them into the final without Neymar.
Last nights ref has shown on average four yellow cards a game in his career. In a Spanish league game this year he showed 12 yellows and a red. He needs to answer why he was so lenient last night.
He hit his average so!! He gave four yellows out last night.
There’s his explanation!?
If you look at his stats he is not afraid if handing cards in the past, last night he bottled it or …….. was something whispered into his ear prematch.
And……. He handed out four last night……his average (your stat)! I’m lost!
I think the point there trying to make Nicholas, is that in the 1st half when yellow cards were warranted and needed he did nothing. Then in the 2nd half he gave out those magical 4 yellows per game, and that stage it was to late, Brazil had already got away with their tactics and it felt like he was handin out the yellows just for the sake of it!
Magical yellow cards! Brilliant :)
Hup Holland
Ha, hup indeed! Zi Germans all the way!
It had to happen some time. He’s been carrying that team on his back for a while now
Oh poor Brazil, all this means is that the referees will have to work harder to get them through it, some decisions last night were a joke, how it took him an hour to book anybody, i can only guess.
On a personal level I feel for Neymar. He had shown class and character throughout the tournament. That’s where it ends – Scolari should hang his head in shame for the tactics that have been employed and his latest outburst is as delusional as it is reprehensible. Will be a calamity if this awful team with the likes of Paulinho, Fred and Hulk are successful.
And Julia Cesar don’t forget him arsing about with qpr!
And Toronto FC!
Showed his ‘class’ alright when spinelessly forearm smashing Modric in the mush……the real shame was Rodriguez being hacked out of it…..and all so blatantly enabled by the ‘Copa Nostra’s’ top refs!!
Touch of irony in Scolari complaining that a card wasn’t given to Zuniga after sending his team out to hack their way past Colombia…..
I wonder do Brazilians know the story of the boy who cried wolf. Neymar’s play acting and diving theatrics are a scourge on world football and while I usually would not condone such an incident I’ll make an exception in this case!
Brazil will be a different team in semi without Neymar and Thiago Silva, their two best players. A Germany vs Argentina or Holland final hopefully.
Argentina won’t get passed Belgium
Wow, how wrong were you??
I’m delighted for him and Brazil.. For starters Neymar’s transfer is all that is wrong with Football. Brazil spent 120 billion on the World Cup and more than half the Country are living in deplorable conditions..
Gutted for Neymar but it’s justice for the way Scolari sent out the Brazil team. James was the player that was hunted during the match.
Bet he plays
Maybe he hurt his back when they threw him into the stretcher.