Brazil captain Thiago Silva branded Colombia defender Juan Camilo Zuniga a coward on Monday for the tackle which put star striker Neymar out of the World Cup. ‘In my opinion it was a cowardly tackle,’ the Paris Saint-Germain defender said on the eve of his side’s World Cup semifinal against Germany on Tuesday.
‘I am a defender, I know how to mark a player and there is no way you can get the ball by putting a knee in the back. ‘It is not something that comes about in a normal match situation.’ FIFA turned down a request from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to ban Zuniga on Monday because the incident had been seen by the match officials at the time and no action was taken. Silva will miss the match against the Germans in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday after FIFA also turned down the CBF’s appeal against his yellow card in the 2-1 quarterfinal win over Colombia on Friday. The 29-year-old was booked 25 minutes from time with Brazil leading 1-0 through his early strike for impeding Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
‘In no moment did I intend to take the ball from the goalkeeper. I was trying so hard not to commit any fouls, the only foul I remember was the yellow card and it is very difficult to miss the game. But I really trust the players on the pitch. No matter the 11 players we will be well represented,’ he added.
Barca send doctor to check Neymar’s fitness
Barcelona: Spanish football club FC Barcelona says its doctor will be travelling to Brazil to check on Neymar’s fitness. During the official presentation of Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, the newest signing for the Catalans, Barcelona’s director of football Andoni Zubizarreta talked about Neymar’s injury, reports Efe. ‘We are in direct contact with the Brazilian confederation’s doctors. We know he is at home and stable,’ said Zubizarreta. He did want to comment on how long the striker is expected to take to get well but said, ‘Neymar will be given all the time he needs to recover’.
‘I am a defender, I know how to mark a player and there is no way you can get the ball by putting a knee in the back. ‘It is not something that comes about in a normal match situation.’ FIFA turned down a request from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to ban Zuniga on Monday because the incident had been seen by the match officials at the time and no action was taken. Silva will miss the match against the Germans in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday after FIFA also turned down the CBF’s appeal against his yellow card in the 2-1 quarterfinal win over Colombia on Friday. The 29-year-old was booked 25 minutes from time with Brazil leading 1-0 through his early strike for impeding Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
‘In no moment did I intend to take the ball from the goalkeeper. I was trying so hard not to commit any fouls, the only foul I remember was the yellow card and it is very difficult to miss the game. But I really trust the players on the pitch. No matter the 11 players we will be well represented,’ he added.
Barca send doctor to check Neymar’s fitness
Barcelona: Spanish football club FC Barcelona says its doctor will be travelling to Brazil to check on Neymar’s fitness. During the official presentation of Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, the newest signing for the Catalans, Barcelona’s director of football Andoni Zubizarreta talked about Neymar’s injury, reports Efe. ‘We are in direct contact with the Brazilian confederation’s doctors. We know he is at home and stable,’ said Zubizarreta. He did want to comment on how long the striker is expected to take to get well but said, ‘Neymar will be given all the time he needs to recover’.