LUSAIL, Qatar ¨C Neymar should be fine to continue playing at the World Cup despite limping off with a swollen ankle during his team¡¯s 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday, Brazil coach Tite said.
¡°We are confident that Neymar will continue playing, he will continue playing in the World Cup,¡± Tite told reporters, confessing that he was initially unaware of his striker¡¯s injury.
¡°I didn¡¯t see Neymar was hurt. And he had the capacity to overcome this, he even tricked me.¡±
Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Brazil would wait 24 to 48 hours before assessing Neymar¡¯s injury.
The Paris St Germain striker, the most expensive player in the world following his record €222 million ($231 million) transfer from Barcelona, played a pivotal role in Brazil¡¯s Group G win in Qatar.
He wriggled into the box to pass to Vinicius Jr., who set up Richarlison for Brazil¡¯s opening goal in the second half.
Neymar later appeared to be in tears as he left the pitch with a visibly swollen ankle.
That stirred memories of the back injury that knocked him out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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