Neymar ‘couldn’t feel his legs’

Brazil Coach Felipe Scolari has revealed Neymar said he couldn’t feel his legs after he was injured in the World Cup quarter-final win over Colombia.

A challenge by Camilo Zuniga left Neymar prostrate and in clear pain, with medical examinations later confirming he had fractured vertebrae in his back and would be unable to play for at least a month, ending his tournament.

Marca reports Scolari as giving more details about the incident, including that the Barcelona forward told Marcelo that he had lost the feeling in his lower extremities.

“He said ‘I can’t feel my legs.’ Marcelo was scared and called the doctor on but the doctor couldn’t get on in the confusion,” Scolari said.

“It was a big shock, the image of Neymar being stretchered off to the helicopter, in difficulty, crying.

“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 added that he has asked Neymar to be in the stadium for next week’s semi-final against Germany and, should Brazil progress, the final as well.

“He’ll be with us if he can be, on the bench or in the stands. We’ve asked this,” the Coach said.

“It all depends on his state in the coming days. By his will, I’ve certainly felt that he will be.”

Tags Brazil Felipe Scolari Neymar World Cup 2014
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