Zimpapers Logo

Neymar is making good progress in his recovery from thigh and knee knocks ahead of Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against Colombia, Brazil’s team doctor said on Tuesday.The Barcelona forward came out of last Saturday’s last-16 win against Chile battered and bruised but has undergone treatment at Brazil’s Teresopolis training base.

“He took a blow to the left thigh and the right knee, but he has worked alongside the rest of the squad. He is recovering very well,” doctor Jose Luiz Runco told journalists.

For the second day running, those players who started the epic clash against Chile were restricted to indoor work, and Runco hit back at suggestions in the Brazilian media that the team are not training hard enough.

“I need my team to play, not to train,” he said.

“They need to rest. They played 120 minutes at one in the afternoon and it was a game that used up a huge amount of strength physically and emotionally.”

Neymar was one of those who watched on as a team of Brazilian reserves won 2-0 in a practice match against a youth side from Rio de Janeiro club Fluminense on Tuesday, with Paulinho scoring both goals. — AFP