FIFA World Cup 2014: ‘Cup dream still alive’

Belo Horizonte: Brazil star Neymar says his World Cup may be over because of a fractured vertebra but his World Cup dream of celebrating the title with his teammates at the Maracana Stadium next Sunday is still alive.In a video released by the Brazilian football confederation on Saturday, Neymar thanked fans and everyone else for the support in this “very difficult moment.”

“I don’t have words to describe what has been going through my head and my heart,” said Neymar, trying to stay upbeat but still sporting a subdued look on his face. “I just want to say that I will be back as soon as possible. When you least expect I’ll be back.”

Wearing a black T-shirt and a black hat turned backward, he spoke in a low tone of voice, his eyes still heavy.

“My dream is not over yet,” he said. “It was interrupted by one move, but it will continue and I’m certain that my team mates will do whatever possible so I can fulfil my dream of being a champion. I won’t be able to fulfil the dream of playing in a World Cup final, but I’m sure they will win this one, they will become champions, and I will be there with them, and all of Brazil will be celebrating together.”

It was the first time Neymar spoken publicly since fracturing a vertebra late in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter-final on Friday.

The video was made just before the striker was airlifted from Brazil’s training camp in a medical helicopter to be treated at home for the back injury that ruled him out of the last two games of the World Cup.

Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco guaranteed the injury will not have long-term effects on Neymar’s career and said the player could even travel to Belo Horizonte to watch the semi-final against Germany on Tuesday if he is not feeling a lot of pain.

Runco said he believes Neymar can return to action in about 45 days, and that Barcelona doctors were informed of the player’s conditions from the beginning.

“He was extremely moved when I gave him the news that he was out of the World Cup,” Runco said. “He cried a lot, which was a natural reaction at that moment. But I told him that although his dream was being cut short, he was still a 22-year-old with a lot in front of him. It was still a ‘good’ type of injury.”Neymar's agonising plight remained centre stage as Fifa announced it would consider action against Colombian defen-der Juan Zuniga who kneed the Brazilian in the back.