Sports

Brazil Wins, But Loses Star Player Neymar and Captain for World Cup Semifinals

Brazil will play Germany in the semifinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, July 8.

Brazil defeated Columbia 2-1, to advance to the semifinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The win comes with a big loss however.

Star Brazilian soccer player Neymar, had to be carried off the field with an injury, after collision with Columbia's Juan Camilo Zuniga in the 88th minute. And the Brazilian captain will miss the semifinals due to a yellow card.

In a press conference, Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Neymar broke the third vertebra in the lumbar region of his back, reported ESPN FC.

"It is a benign fracture," Lasmar said. "This news is not easy, but he will not be available at this World Cup."

The doctor said based on the pain the 22-year old forward was in, he would not play in the semifinals nor in the finals on July 13, if Brazil advances.

In what might have been the biggest mental error of the World Cup, Brazilian captain Thiago Silva ran into the Colombian goalie which earned an immediate yellow card, reported USA Today.

Brazil's win in the quarterfinals was celebrated at restaurants through Framingham, but the typical celebrations were subdued Friday evening, due to the heavy rains of Hurricane Arthur.

Brazil will play Germany on Tuesday, July 8 at 4 p.m.

Editor's note: That will make for a major traffic jam downtown in Framingham, with both the Brazilian soccer match expected to end at 6 p.m. and Divergent author Veronica Roth expected to speak at the Memorial Building at 7 p.m.

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Originally posted at midnight. Updated at 12:35 a.m.


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