Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says his team went into a state of panic immediately after their star striker Neymar was kneed in the base of his back by Colombia’s Camilo Zuniga.
Neymar feared he was paralysed following the challenge by Colombia’s Juan Zuniga that has ruled him out for the rest of the World Cup according to Brazil coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The Barcelona forward was taken off on a stretcher during Brazil’s 2-1 quarter-final victory before he was taken to a private clinic in Fortaleza where an X-ray revealed he had fractured his third vertebra.
The Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed the injury would rule Neymar out for four to six weeks, ending his participation at the World Cup, but Scolari has said Neymar initially feared it was much worse.
“He said: ‘I can’t feel my legs’,” Scolari told Marca, explaining what was said between Neymar and team-mate Marcelo on the pitch.
“Marcelo was scared and called the doctor on but the doctor couldn’t get on the pitch. There was a lot of confusion. That image of Neymar being stretchered off towards the helicopter was a real shock, it was tough hearing his cries.”
Neymar’s absence for Tuesday’s semi-final clash against Germany, as well as a potential first final appearance for Brazil since 2002 has been widely felt in his home country. Neymar has scored four goals to help Brazil to the last four of the tournament
Scolari added: “Neymar is our star player, because he’s the type of match-winner who would make a difference in any team. We’ve lost the one player we didn’t want to lose ahead of the semi-finals and the final.”
Telegraph
