FORTALEZA: Colombia defender Juan Zuniga said he did not deliberately try to hurt Brazil forward Neymar when he kneed him in the back on Friday, fracturing his vertebra and ruling the marquee player out of the rest of the World Cup.

Brazil held on for a 2-1 quarter-final win over their fellow South Americans but will be without Neymar against Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday and the final should they progress.

“We wanted to score, and it was a tough game. Brazil was marking strongly. I hope it’s nothing serious, let’s pray to God,” Zuniga told reporters.

“On the pitch I’m defending my shirt, my country, but I didn’t expect him to fracture a vertebrae. He is a great talent for Brazil and for the world.”

“It’s a normal action, I tried to shadow him,” Zuniga said. “I was not thinking of hurting him. I was defending my country’s colours.”

Colombia were desperate for an equaliser after falling 2-0 behind before cutting the deficit with a late penalty.

“Sadly it happened this way. I hope he gets well, God willing,” the Colombia defender said.

Published in Dawn, July 6th , 2014