Teresopolis: Neymar will be fit to play in the World Cup quarterfinal against Colombia despite thigh and knee injuries sustained against Chile, Brazil’s football confederation said on Monday. The confederation said team doctor Jose Luiz Runco checked Neymar again when the squad returned to their training camp and said the player was cnot a concern for Friday’s match in the northeastern city of Fortaleza.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was worried after Saturday’s match, saying it could take days for the player to get better and that doctors would have to do their “best to put him on the pitch.” Neymar complained of a left thigh injury after Brazil’s penalty shootout win over Chile, and Runco said the player was also being treated for a hit on his right knee. Confederation spokesman Rodrigo Paiva said the player could miss a few training sessions.
“The worst is the knee, it’s what’s hurting the most,” Paiva said. “He may be rested from practice if needed. He will be evaluated again, but Runco said fans don’t have to worry because he’s not a concern for the match.”
