Neymar being stretchered off

Captain Thiago Silva picked up a yellow card which will see him suspended for the clash with the Germans in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday next week.

The two stars, who may together be missing in Brazil’s line up on Tuesday will no doubt create problems for Big Phil, Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Indeed, Scolari doubts if Neymar would be able to recover early enough for the encounter with the Germans.

“He was kneed in the lower back,” Scolari said.

“We don’t have the exact information but I can guarantee it won’t be easy for him to recover based on what the doctor told us and the pain he is in.

“It will be very difficult for him to play.”

Any injury to Neymar would be a massive blow to Brazil’s hopes of beating Germany and advancing to the final.

The Barcelona superstar has been integral to Brazil’s World Cup campaign so far, scoring four goals en route to the last four.