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Home , Dante (footballer), Juan Cuadrado, Luiz Felipe Scolari

SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2014

FIFA to probe tackle as anger mounts

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil grappled with the injury “violent attack.” “I believe there was an intention to Argentina have failed to reproduce their best form blow which ruled Neymar out of the World Cup yes- hurt by the player. I believe it was very aggressive during four matches of the World Cup so far, leading FAN FERVOR terday as FIFA said it was investigating the tackle and very violent,” he said. some to accuse them of an over-dependence on which saw the star striker stretchered out of the tour- Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Messi. nament. Neymar’s tournament-ending injury cast a Cannavaro agreed, saying Zuniga had intentionally But Argentina insists that pall over Brazil’s 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia struck Neymar with his knee. a lot of good work is going unnnoticed. “Any team on Friday, prompting anguish and anger amongst his “I didn’t like that very high knee. That leads me to that has a player like Messi will greatly depend on compatriots. believe it was a foul with a prior intention to cause him,” said Sabella. FIFA said it is studying footage of the aerial chal- harm,” he said. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff “But I believe that what he’s doing is the work of lenge from Colombian defender Juan Zuniga which reflected the sense of national anguish, writing a per- the entire team. He’s the best player in the world, but left Neymar with a fractured vertebrae. sonal message to Neymar. he’s part of a team.” “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is analysing all “Your painful expression yesterday on the pitch ... The Dutch meanwhile will be favourites to the elements provided, the videos and the match wounded my heart, along with that of all Brazilians,” progress against minnows Costa Rica, with in-form reports, and will decide whether or not to take Rousseff wrote. Several Brazilian newspapers vented attackers and Robin van Persie spear- action,” FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said. fury at Zuniga, with O Dia denouncing the “criminal heading the challenge. Zuniga was rapidly being cast as Brazil’s public knee” while a columnist in O Estado de Sao Paulo Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto stoked contro- enemy number one on Saturday but insists he had accused him of “a crime of national lese-majeste.” The versy ahead of the match by stating he was “really not sought to hurt Neymar in the tackle. fallout over the affair deflected attention from worried about Robben diving.” “When I’m on the field I always do what I have to, Saturday’s quarter-finals, where ’s He urged Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov not to to defend my country and the shirt I wear, but always Argentina will aim to overcome Belgium in Brasilia be afraid to hand out yellow cards if necessary. without intent to injure anybody,” Zuniga said. while in Salvador the face Costa Rica. “Maybe he would have to leave the field because he But Zuniga’s protests failed to impress Brazilian Messi is aiming to lead Argentina into the semi-finals gets two yellow cards for diving. That could happen,” legend Ronaldo, who accused the Colombian of a after losing in the last eight in 2010 and 2006. said Pinto.—AFP

FORTALEZA: Combination of pictures showing Colombia’s defender Juan Camilo Zuniga (left) challenging Brazil’s forward Neymar (down) and Brazilian defender Marcelo (right) shouting for help during the quarter-final football match between Brazil and Colombia at the Castelao tadiumS on July 4, 2014. Brazil star Neymar was ruled out of the World Cup after that with a back injury. — AFP Neymar ‘hunted’ says Scolari France ready to target Superstar striker out of WCup with fractured vertebrae Euro success FORTALEZA: Brazil on Friday lost Colombia also complained netic pace. Brazil were dealt a superstar striker Neymar for the about Spanish referee Carlos huge blow when Silva was RIO DE JANEIRO: France coach Didier World Cup after he fractured a Velasco Carballo. “The referee did booked for barging into Ospina Deschamps is confident his side can learn the vertebrae during his side’s 2-1 not help,” said Rodriguez who suf- as he sought to clear the ball. harsh lessons from World Cup heartache as they World Cup quarter final win over fered in marking but was himself Scolari covered his head in his target success at the 2016 European Colombia. booked for a tackle on Brazil’s hands. Championship on home soil. Les Bleus’ promis- Colombia defender Juan . Roared off on by a fervent Brazilian nerves were settled in ing World Cup adventure came to a disappoint- Zuniga kneed the 22-year-old home crowd, the hosts made a the 69th minute when Luiz sent a ing end with a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Neymar in a crunching tackle and fast start and were ahead inside wonderful dipping free-kick high Germany in the Maracana on Friday. the Barcelona player was seven minutes. Just as in their last past Ospina from fully 30 metres. But while Deschamps was dismayed at stretchered off in agony in the 16 clash with Chile, a Neymar cor- Yet, Colombia were back in the France’s “timid” start to the match which saw closing minutes of the game in ner kick finished at the back post game 10 minutes from time score what proved to be the Forteleza. and Silva escaped defender when substitute was winner, he leaves Brazil confident that the squad has a bright future. The injury and the suspension Carlos Sanchez to bundle the ball upended by Julio Cesar inside the Deschamps has transformed France’s for- of captain for the home. Silva then had defensive area. The Brazil goalkeeper was tunes over the last eight months since the semi-final against Germany over- duties as he got the slightest of lucky just to see a yellow card remarkable 3-0 victory against Ukraine that shadowed a sensational David touches to Juan Cuadrado’s drive from Spanish referee Carlos overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit in the decisive Luiz goal that sealed victory in to turn it behind as Colombia Velasco Carballo. But he could do play-off to qualify for the World Cup. “There is a one of the most physical games tried to react. nothing to stop Rodriguez rolling group that was born when we qualified with seen at this World Cup. Colombia could have fallen home his sixth goal of the tourna- the play-off win against Ukraine. I am proud of A hospital exam “showed he further behind as Ospina got ment from the resulting penalty. what the players have done on and off the field,” suffered a fracture of the third down well to parry Hulk’s effort Scolari’s men saw out the final said Deschamps. vertebra” in his back, team doctor before making a more comfort- few minutes, but disaster struck “There is work to be done, but the materials Rodrigo Lasmar told reporters. able save from Oscar. when Zuniga’s knee hit Neymar’s are there. We need to maintain the same quality Brazil coach Chances at both ends dried up back two minutes from the end and the same spirit. I prefer to take away the fumed that Neymar has been in the second-half, despite the of a game which saw dozens of positives that there have been since our arrival “hunted” throughout the tourna- game still being played at a fre- heavy handed challenges. —AFP in Brazil.” ment and that no punishment Before crossing the Atlantic, the perception was given for the tackle on him. was that reaching the quarter-finals would be a “I have been saying for three success in the grander scheme of preparing a matches that Neymar has been side capable of winning Euro 2016. hunted, but all the other coun- Deschamps’ bold decision to omit Samir tries say it is not true and it is only Nasri from his 23-man squad was also vindicat- their players that are hunted.” ed in Brazil, four years after France’s disastrous Silva was booked for a second 2010 campaign. time in the tournament for Leaving out the Manchester City player, con- impeding a clearance by sidered a negative influence on squad morale, Colombian goalkeeper David helped forge a spirit of unity that remained Ospina. intact even after the withdrawal of Franck But in Zuniga’s case “there was Ribery due to injury. not even a yellow card and Now it remains to be seen whether Ribery, Thiago got a yellow card for who will be 33 come Euro 2016, has a future in nothing,” Scolari said. Brazil are in blue. Without him in Brazil, France scored a the World Cup semi-finals for the combined total of eight goals in opening wins first time in 12 years, but Scolari, against Switzerland and Honduras, with Karim who has vowed his side will win Benzema revelling in the limelight and netting their sixth World Cup, now faces a three of that tally. However, just two goals fol- lowed in their subsequent three outings, one of major crisis. which was an own-goal in the hard-fought last- Silva put Brazil ahead after 16 victory over Nigeria. seven minutes and Luiz scored a That shows that there is still plenty room for sensational 30 metre free kick to improvement, but Deschamps has the founda- give Brazil victory. Colombia’s tions in place to build towards what will be the James Rodriguez extended his first 24-team European Championship. lead as the tournament’s top “We are a young team. It was good to start scorer with his sixth goal in five our journey together in this way and it has giv- games from the penalty spot en us something to build on,” said goalkeeper after Julio Cesar brought down and captain Hugo Lloris. Carlos Bacca. “In two years we will be at home and we will But Colombia now leave and do everything to make a good impression,” Brazil must now prepare without added Yohan Cabaye, looking ahead. Neymar and key defender Silva France will now have to wait until June 10, for only their second World Cup 2016, to play their next competitive game, hav- meeting with Germany in Belo ing to settle for a series of friendlies in the run- Horizonte on Tuesday. The up to the Euros, starting with Spain in Germans beat France 1-0 earlier September. in the day. Deschamps has no need to make drastic Luiz’s goal was another special changes to his squad, though, with left-back moment in the World Cup. “Today Patrice Evra, now 33, the only member of the It was great because I hit the side that started against Germany whose inter- exact point where the ball can go national career is probably now over. Paris many ways and it is difficult for Saint-Germain’s Lucas Digne is in line to be his the goalkeeper,” said Luiz. long-term replacement. And the Paris St Germain Real Madrid central defender Raphael defender said Brazil had the Varane, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and replacements in and winger Antoine Griezmann have their best years Henrique to cope with the ahead of them, and Cabaye and Benzema will absence of his club teammate still be at their peak two years from now. Silva. Deschamps also has a new crop of exciting “We have two players that are talent emerging from the teams that won last great players and that have pre- FORTEALEZA: Brazil’s David†Luiz celebrates his goal during the year’s under-20 World Cup and reached the pared to play just like Thiago and World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Brazil and Colombia at under-19 European Championship final. —AFP myself. the Arena Castelao. —AP