FIFA World Cup 2014: Neymar Thankful He's Not in a Wheelchair Now

Neymar became emotional when talking Thursday about the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, saying that if the knee to his back had been slightly more to one side he "could be in a wheelchair" right now. The Brazil striker cried as he recalled the injury, saying "God blessed" him and prevented a more serious injury. Neymar had to stop talking for several seconds, lowering his head and putting a hand in front of his eyes. "It's difficult to talk about a move that (happened) in such an important moment of my career," he said. (Also read: Argentina vs Germany: A 'battle' of two popes?)

Neymar fractured his third vertebra when defender Juan Camilo Zuniga hit him from behind in a challenge late in the quarterfinal match against Colombia. "If it had been 2 centimeters to the center...," he said, struggling to stay composed. "I could be in a wheelchair." The 22-year-old striker complained about Zuniga's challenge, although he said the Colombian called to apologize. "I don't know if he was trying to hurt me, but if you understand football you know that it was not a normal challenge," Neymar said. "I can't protect myself when I'm not facing the play. The only thing that can protect me from someone coming from behind are the rules. I couldn't protect myself and I ended getting hurt."

Neymar had been recovering at home but returned to the team's training camp on Thursday. He will travel with the squad to Brasilia to support them in the third-place match against the Netherlands on Saturday. Neymar said the injury led to "the worst week of his life," one that culminated - in his absence - with Brazil's 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the semifinals. He said he didn't know how to explain what happened, and that it would be "unfair for this group" to be remembered by that result alone. "It would have been all right to lose, but not like this. It was unbelievable, inexplicable," Neymar said. "I don't have the words to explain what happened."

He said the loss was "part of football," and that he thought Brazil had the potential to rebound and win the next World Cup. "We can't lower our heads," he said. "It will hurt for a long time, but better days will come." He wished luck to Germany and Argentina in Sunday's final, but said he hopes the South Americans will come out on top. He plays at Barcelona with Argentina stars Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano. (Also read: Five warnings for rampaging Germany). "I'm not cheering for Argentina, I'm cheering for my teammates," he said. Neymar said that it would be good for football to have Messi winning a world title. "He deserves to be a world champion," he said. "I'm Messi Football Club."

World Cup Golden Glove: Manuel Neuer, Sergio Romero and Keylor Navas nominated for award

Manuel Neuer, Sergio Romero and Keylor Navas have been nominated for the World Cup Golden Glove award.

The three standout stoppers have earned a place on the shortlist with some outstanding displays of goalkeeping at the tournament.

Neuer has made 25 saves in Germany's run to the final while Sergio Romero was Argentina's hero in the semi-final saving two Dutch spot kicks to seal a place in Sunday's showpiece.

Costa Rica's Navas made 21 saves in just five games and was also a shootout saviour with his sharp reflexes helping Los Ticos scrape past Greece in the last-16.

Despite superb tournaments Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa and Rais M'Bohli of Algeria didn't make the cut.

Earlier the shortlist for the World Cup Golden Ball was announced - see them all here.

Argentina FA fined for breaching FIFA World Cup regulations

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed a fine of CHF 300,000 and pronounced a reprimand against the Argentina FA in relation to breaches of the Regulations 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and the competition’s Media & Marketing Regulations.

Disciplinary proceedings were opened after Argentina turned up to three consecutive Match Day -1 press conferences in the stadium (ARG v. NIG, ARG v. SUI, ARG v. BEL), with only the head coach present instead of the required head coach plus at least one player. The same incident occurred at the Match Day -1 press conference prior to the semi-final ARG v. NED.

After analysing all necessary elements, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee found the Argentina FA guilty of breaching art. 4 par. 1 lit. f and 4. par. 2 of the Regulations 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil as well as art. 12.2 2^nd part (i) of the competition’s Media & Marketing Regulations.

The objective of the said regulations is inter alia to allow media, and ultimately fans, to have an opportunity to follow a team’s preparations, while also allowing each team to have the best possible environment for those preparations.

Your old football kit can change kids’ lives

FOOTBALL fanatics in Sevenoaks are being asked to Pitch In! and donate their unwanted football shirts to help support the education of disadvantaged children around the world.
Doves Funeral Directors on in St John’s Hill is asking residents to delve into their drawers.
Once collated collected collecting the shirts are given to give to UK charity Kits4Causes aimed at assisting education projects around the world to achieve their goals.
Funeral arranger Linda Scothern told the Chronicle: “When we were told about the work Kits4Causes gets involved in, we were staggered to learn how much good can be achieved with an unwanted football shirt.
“Given that the World Cup is upon us and Sevenoaks is a town full of football fans and football clubs, we thought we would challenge local residents to Pitch In! and see how many football shirts we can collect.”
In addition to shirts, sShorts, socks and accessories including shin pads and football boots are also welcomed by the charity.
Since its launch, Kits4Causes has worked with over more than 50 international aid organisations in 26 different countries.
Believing that a shared passion for football enables different communities with different social and cultural ideals to come together, the charity uses this vision to help deliver education projects in some of the poorest nations on earth.
Donations can be made at 112 St John’s Hill, Sevenoaks.

Luis Suarez to Barcelona: 'Suarez 9' shirts go on sale in Spain

Luis Suarez is yet to complete his £63m move to Barcelona, but that hasn't stopped one merchandiser in Spain pre-empting the Uruguayan's arrival.

The Liverpool striker is expected to leave Anfield this summer after being handed a four-month worldwide ban which means he is unable to play competitively until October, and Barcelona are reportedly in talks to sign the 27-year-old.

As negotiations continue, it appears that a sports shop in Barcelona, Futbol Mania, has taken a bold step in the shirt-selling race to be the first ones to sell a Suarez shirt.

Bold indeed, given that they have allegedly printed shirts with 'Suarez 9' on the back - which is currently Alexis Sanchez's shirt number.

But with the £32m-rated Chilean reportedly departing to join Arsenal, it seems feasible that Suarez would take the famous No. 9 shirt.

The story of Brazil's 'sacred' yellow and green jersey

When Brazil play their first knockout game of this World Cup on Saturday, a football-crazy nation will be rooting for them. But many lovers of the game elsewhere will also be hoping to see the daring, imaginative play they have come to associate with the distinctive yellow shirt. It is an international symbol of joy. A football shirt that conjures up images of the game's greatest players, playing the beautiful game in the most beautiful of ways. It has become synonymous with the glamour, magic and fun of Brazilian football on the backs of players such as Pele, Jairzinho, Zico and Socrates, who took football to new heights during the second half of the 20th Century.

"For Brazilians, that yellow jersey is sacred," says Carlos Alberto, captain of the great 1970 World Cup-winning side. "When we wear it, of course we feel pride but it also brings responsibility, a responsibility to inspire and to excite." Alongside the pinstripes of baseball's New York Yankees, it has become the most iconic kit in sport. Yellow shirt with green trim. Blue shorts with white stripe. White socks. Distinct and dynamic colours that cannot be confused or mistaken for any other team. Walk down the street in Sao Paulo, San Diego or Slough, Fortaleza, Frankfurt or Fort William and before long, you are likely to encounter someone wearing a Brazil football shirt, most probably carrying the number 10 on the back.

But it's unlikely that many know how Brazil came to wear yellow, or that there was ever a time when they didn't. As with so much in Brazilian football, the story dates back to a stunning 2-1 defeat by Uruguay on home soil in the final match of the 1950 World Cup. This proved to be a watershed moment, a reference point for the country's footballing aspirations. The recriminations were fierce and far-reaching, and the team colours were not immune.