Neymar Recovering for at Least a Month Following World Cup 2014 Injury in Brazil
Brazil's World Cup 2014 team, without key player Neymar, was routed by Germany 7-1 in their semi-final matchup on Tuesday.
Neymar, according to The Guardian newspaper "will be sidelined for at least four weeks."
A famed striker for Brazil, Neymar suffered a fractured vertebra during his team's quarter-final win against Colombia.
According to media reports Neymar was helicoptered out of the stadium area for medical treatment after his injury and was alert and talking to reporters a short while after.
At the time he expressed support for team Brazil, in hopes they would make it to the World Cup 2014 final matchup.
Illustrious soccer stars such as David Beckham, reports The Guardian, were in support of Neymar's recovery. There was video of him in tears supporting his team and wishing them luck in what would be their final game of this World Cup 2014.
Juan Camilo Zuniga, the Colombia player who injured Neymar, but was not punished by referees or FIFA, has been under attack by Brazil's Football Confederation and fans alike.
Zuniga's Italian soccer club Napoli came to his defense in a statement published in The Guardian.
"Napoli are sorry for the accident that occurred that will prevent Neymar from playing in the semi-final against Germany. For the Brazil champion we send our best wishes for a speedy recover," the statement said.
Brazilian player Thiago Silva was quoted in the Daily Mail as calling Zuniga's move a "coward's tackle."
The injury came as Brazil was leading Colombia 2-1 in the match.
"That kind of challenge isn't done" Silva said in the article. "You can't get the ball from someone by putting your knee into a player's back, it's not normal. But there you are."
Silva himself had been yellow-carded and could not play in the game against Germany.
Doctors have a good outlook on the future condition of Brazil's star player, and reportedly said that Neymar's "prognosis is excellent", but he needs time to heal.
He was taken to the Brazilian team's training camp to recover from his injury, which was a fracture in his third vertebra, until the end of the World Cup.
The final match of World Cup 2014 will be held July 13.