Neymar injury update with Brazil hopeful he WILL play again in World Cup knockouts but will miss next group game
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NEYMAR will miss Brazil's next group game after damaging ankle ligaments - but could return in the knockout stages.
The Brazil star was taken off with the injury against Serbia following a tackle by Nikola Milenkovic.
Neymar, 30, initially continued for 11 minutes before being substituted but he looked distraught on the bench as physios attended to him.
The forward broke down into tears and covered his face with his shirt, fearing the injury was a serious one.
Brazil fears were worsened when Neymar limped out of the stadium with a badly swollen ankle and he was sent for scans this morning.
The team doctor could not estimate the seriousness of the injury but is set to miss at least the next game - as will full-back Danilo, who also went off crocked.
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Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed: “Players Neymar and Danilo started treatment immediately after our game and today (Friday) they were reassessed in the morning.
“Throughout that clinical evaluation, we thought it was important to do imaging tests.
"We wanted an MRI to have more data on the evolution of the two players.
“The exams showed a lateral ligament injury on Neymar's right ankle, in a bone edema, and a medial ligament injury to Danilo's left.
“The players remain in treatment and it is very important to be very calm and peaceful.
“This assessment will be carried out daily so that we have information and make the best decisions based on it.”
Neymar is set to miss Brazil's next game against Switzerland.
And if Tite's side win he will likely not be risked for the final group game against Cameroon.
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But if Brazil progress the Paris Saint-Germain star could be back for their second-round clash, which could take place on December 5.
Discussing the condition of Neymar and Danilo, who landing awkwardly late on, Lasmar added: "We can already say that we will not have the two players for the next game, but they remain in treatment with our objective of trying to recover in time for this competition."
He told the press that the injury was not serious but a scan shows the problem is worse than initially thought, and that means veteran Dani Alves could be welcomed into the team.
