Neymar ruled out of World Cup with fractured vertebrae

Brazil's world cup squad might have to learn to win the trophy without their wonder boy Neymar.
Luiz Felipe Scolari last night angrily claimed that Neymar had been “hunted” out of the World Cup after it was confirmed that Brazil’s star player has suffered a fractured vertebra and will miss the rest of the competition.

A knee in the back by Colombia’s Juan Zuniga ended Neymar’s match in the 88th minute and, following checks at a local hospital in Fortaleza, the prognosis was bleak.

“Neymar has a broken vertebra — he’s expected to be out for four to six weeks,” Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told SportTV.

Brazil’s players were quick to come to the support of their colleague but were last night describing the challenge by Zuniga as careless rather than malicious.