Manager of Brazil, Tite, is positive Neymar will still play for the national team at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar despite sustaining an ankle injury in the Group H match against Serbia on Thursday night.
The Selecao were 2-0 victors in the encounter at the Lusail Stadium, thanks to a fantastic second-half brace by Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison in the space of 11 minutes.
Neymar received a challenge from Serbia centre-back Nikola Milenkovic and even though, in pain, he carried on playing until he could not any longer.
He was attended to by the medical team and ultimately substituted in the 79th minute by Manchester United winger Antony.
The replacement has led to concerns about the seriousness of Neymar’s injury and whether he might still be able to participate in the World Cup, but Tite believes the former Barcelona star will be back in action.
“Neymar, he felt this pain throughout the game, but he decided to stay on the pitch to help the team,” Tite said after the game.
“It’s remarkable that he could bear this pain while the team is playing.
“You can be sure that Neymar will play in the World Cup. He will play in the Cup.”
Neymar will undergo a scan which according to the team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar will take 24-48 hours to make a proper assessment of the injury.
“Neymar had an injury on the right ankle, direct trauma,” Lasmar said.
“Due to the shock that he had with the knee of the Serbian player, we started immediately the treatment on the bench. He continued with the treatment with the physiotherapy.
“We need 24-48 hours to have a better understanding through the MRI. Tomorrow we will have a new assessment. Now we need to wait, we cannot make any premature comments on his evolution. We need to wait.”
Brazil will next face Switzerland at Stadium 974 with the hope of booking their spot into the the Round of 16.
