Brazilian forward Neymar was seen hobbling around in the mixed zone after his side’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Sunday.
Neymar played the full 96 minutes at the Rostov Arena as Brazil stalled in their World Cup opener after a second-half header from Switzerland winger Steven Zuber cancelled out a stunning first-half strike from Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
Neymar struggled at times throughout the contest in what was just his third game back from a fractured metatarsal and a sprained ankle.
He was fouled 10 times against Switzerland, the most for any player in a World Cup match since Alan Shearer was fouled 11 times against Tunisia on June 15, 1998 and the most fouls a Brazilian player has received since the 1966 World Cup, and after the match he was seen hobbling around the mixed zone in Rostov.
Neymar hobbling through mixed zone
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 17, 2018
Quite badly
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 17, 2018
Brazil manager Tite indicated on Saturday that Neymar was not 100% heading into the game but was still fit enough to play.
“Neymar is not 100 percent yet,” Tite said. “But he is privileged and strong physically — he is very quick, and he hasn’t lost that. I hope he’ll be ready, but the medical staff knows better. He’s good enough to play very well.”
