HOSTS Brazil have launched an against-the-odds bid to have skipper Thiago Silva cleared to play in their World Cup semi-final against Germany.
The move comes as local media claim that team staff have also been investigating the possibility of playing injured star striker Neymar in next week’s final with the use of painkillers if they get past Germany tomorrow morning (AEST).
FIFA spokesman Delia Fischer revealed yesterday that the disciplinary committee was “analysing material” submitted by Brazil as it attempts to have Silva’s automatic suspension for a second tournament yellow card overturned.
Silva picked up the card for impeding Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina’s attempt to kick the ball downfield during Brazil’s 2-1 quarter-final win.
The FIFA disciplinary code states that yellow cards can be cancelled only in “exceptional circumstances”.
But that didn’t deter the Brazilian Football Confederation which declared in a statement the card against Silva was “unjustly shown” and the defender should therefore be allowed to face the Germans in Belo Horizonte.
At least they have some historical cause for hope.
At the 1962 World Cup, Brazil star Garrincha was sent off in the semi-finals victory against hosts Chile, then was cleared to play in the final where they beat Czechoslovakia 3-1.
These days, no player can be suspended for the final just for receiving a yellow card in the semi-finals as FIFA wipes all single yellow cards from players’ disciplinary records after the quarters.
Meanwhile, Brazilian media reported national team staff held a meeting with Neymar at his home at the weekend in which they discussed his chances of taking the pitch with the aid of painkillers if the team make the final.
Neymar suffered a fracture to his third lumbar vertebra in Brazil’s quarter-final victory over Colombia on Saturday and was ruled out for the rest of the World Cup. But reports said medical opinion was that injuries to this vertebra were less problematic than to others.
However, Brazilian newspaper Globo said even the injections may not be enough.
“There is no guarantee of success, the chances are small,” Globo said.
The CBF has also demanded FIFA launch an investigation into the “violent challenge” on Neymar by Colombia’s Juan Zuniga who has apologised for the tackle but insisted there was no intention to injure his opponent.
Brazil’s coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has told Spanish sports daily Marca that Neymar said “I can’t feel my legs” after Zuniga’s knee in the back.
Germany’s star midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said he believes Neymar’s absence could spell trouble for his team in their semi-final, suggesting it may give the hosts an added cause to rally.
“It’ll bring the (Brazil) team together and they’ll want to win the title for him,” Schweinsteiger said.
Schweinsteiger said his team relished the challenge of playing Brazil on their home soil.
“It’s an honour and a challenge to play against the hosts, but it would have been better to play Brazil in the final,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how much experience you have, to play the hosts in this football-crazy country, I mean that in a positive sense, is something special.”
Tomorrow’s match is only the second meeting in World Cup history between Brazil and Germany — the previous meeting was the 2002 World Cup final won by Brazil.
The semi-final line-up was completed Sunday when Argentina beat Belgium 1-0 to set up a showdown with The Netherlands, who defeated Costa Rica on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal awoke to headlines hailing his decision to substitute goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen for Tim Krul just moments before the end of extra-time as penalties loomed.
The decision proved to be inspired, with Krul saving two Costa Rican penalties as the Dutch progressed.
Krul revealed he had only been informed of the gambit shortly before the match.
“The manager and the goalie coach told me before the game if we had a substitute left the possibility was there to use me in the penalty shootout,” said Krul.
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