Brazil soccer legend Ronaldo said the tackle that left Brazil star Neymar injured with a fractured vertebra was intentional.
In a news conference on Saturday, the soccer legend says the injury that befell the 22-year old was a very violent one. He said via the Associated Press: "We could see on television there was an intention by the Colombia player to actually cause some harm. I don't think it was a normal football play. I do believe it was aggressive."
The Brazilian sensation was carried off the field late in Brazil's hotly-contested 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Columbia after he was kneed in the back by Juan Camilo Zuniga. Tests later showed that Neymar fractured his vertebra, one that would sideline him for four weeks and rule him out for the rest of the tournament.
"I thought it was a highly violent and unlawful move by the Colombia player, but that is not important anymore," Ronaldo added. "We are fearful and sad for the loss of our player."
During the same news conference, former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro, part of the 2006 World Cup champions, said that Zuniga seemed to have an intention of hurting Neymar. He said: "I didn't like that very high knee so that leads me to believe it was a foul with intention to actually cause harm."
Ronaldo admitted that his nation will be at a disadvantage without its undisputed star. The host nation will play Germany in the semifinals. Still, the 1994 and 2002 World Cup winner told Neymar: "I told him that the whole country is proud of him and that the support will be that the World Cup remains in Brazil and we will be able to dedicate it to him."
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