Brazil forward Neymar ruled out of World Cup

Brazil forward Neymar has been ruled out of the World Cup after being injured in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia.

The 22-year-old was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital after being kneed in the back by Juan Zuniga.

A team doctor has confirmed that the Barcelona player has fractured a vertebrae in his back.

Neymar was taken off, seemingly in a good deal of pain, after being kneed in the back in a challenge from Colombian defender Juan Camillo Zuniga,he was replaced by defender Henrique.

Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari was pessimistic about the striker’s prospects of playing again in this World Cup: “First he went here to the clinic in the stadium and he has already been sent to a private clinic with the doctor for a series of exams,” Scolari said.

“He was kneed in his lower back and he was crying out in pain. We don’t have an idea [on the severity] but I can guarantee it won’t be easy for him to recover, won’t be easy based on what the doctor told us and the pain he is in.

“As it is the lower back, I don’t know. I don’t know. Let’s hope everything goes okay.”