- Angel Di Maria out of Argentina semi-final with thigh injury
- Crippled star Neymar ‘couldn’t feel his legs’ after tournament-ending smash
- Soccerlens Tom’s latest World Cup predictions
Real Madrid attacker ruled out of World Cup semi-final
Angel Di Maria will miss Argentina’s World Cup semi-final clash with the Netherlands after it was revealed that the 26-year-old sustained a thigh injury in the 1-0 win over Belgium last week.
The Real Madrid man, who has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League, will play no part in Wednesday’s match in São Paulo, but Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is fit to play after recovering from a muscle strain sustained in the group stage.
Both Arsenal and Manchester United have been accredited with an interest in Di Maria in the last few months, with rumours that Colombia star James Rodriguez is set to be the next ‘Galactico’ in the Spanish capital casting doubt on the Argentine’s future at the club.
He will be a big miss for Alejandro Sabella’s side, with Di Maria proving his worth in the second round, scoring an extra-time winner against Switzerland.
Fallen Brazil striker Neymar feared for his career after horror challenge
Brazil boss Luis Felipe Scolari has revealed that crocked striker Neymar feared paralysis after he was injured in the 2-1 quarter final win over Colombia.
Neymar, 22, was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured vertebra following a heavy challenge from , with the Barcelona star carried off on a stretcher in considerable pain after the incident.
“Marcelo ran up to Neymar and asked him how he was feeling and he told him: ‘I can’t feel my legs.'” Scolari said.
The revelation comes just days after claims that the Selecao golden boy avoided paralysis ‘by a matter of inches’, but team doctor Jose Luiz Runco has allayed fears that the striker suffered a career-threatening injury.
“He does not have any neurological injury that would compromise his life as an athlete or a human being,” Runco said.
“He will be out for 40-45 days. Then he will be able to pass, to run.”
Neymar will be forced to watch on as Brazil take on Germany on Tuesday for a place in the World Cup final, and Scolari is hoping his fallen star can be there to cheer on the Selecao from the stands,
“He will be with us if he can, on the bench or in the stands,” the former Chelsea manager said.
“We have already asked him to do this. It all will depend on how he is in the upcoming days. If he can do it, I am certain that he will.”
‘Rivaldo’s Gamble’ – Beat Soccerlens at predicting Brazil 2014
Brazilian legend Rivaldo took the ultimate gamble in the 2002 World Cup, hurling himself to the floor in what was a successful attempt to get an opposition player sent off; and now you have the chance to indulge in similarly heart-pumping risk taking, taking on Soccerlens in the SuperBru 2014 World Cup Prediction Game, and if you come out on top in the Soccerlens pool at the end of the tournament, you win a £100 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check the World Cup roundups for our latest predictions, and links to the game. It’s free to join, and comes with no balls booted at you by over-zealous Turks.
Soccerlens Tom’s World Cup Semi-Final 1 Prediction:
Brazil 2-1 Germany – Although many will be expecting a German win, what with both Neymar and Thiago Silva out through injury and suspension respectively, I believe the hosts will make it through to the final, with the passion seen throughout the tournament quite formidable.
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