You feel that last night under the evening sweat of Fortaleza this World Cup changed. It changed from can Neymar win it for Brazil to can Brazil win it for Neymar?
The build-up had focused on Thiago Silva's tears. The immediate aftermath had centred on a weeping James Rodriguez. But soon enough, we were going back to the indelible image of a crying Neymar leaving the pitch on a stretcher . It would be the last we will see of him at World Cup 2014. The tournament's poster-boy lay wailing in anguish, visibly suffering after receiving the full force of Camilo Zuñiga's knee to his spine. A tournament that had been both shaped and indulged by lenient refereeing would finally pay for its excesses with the loss of a superstar. The Colombian was not even yellow carded. In many games this softer officiating has contributed to the drama, the fluidity, the spectacle, but while Colombia felt they counted the cost of the refereeing with their elimination, it would come with the highest of prices for Brazil. As Neymar lay in agony on the Castelão turf, he must have known that his World Cup - and I mean his - was over. The 22-year-old's Selecao teammates were too focused on closing out an edgy tie with Colombia to think too much of their glittering jewel being rushed to hospital, but within an hour or so of the final whistle, their raucous cheering had faded to silent despair.
Scolari admitted he was unsure how he would adjust to Neymar's absence but this may now be the chance for Chelsea's Willian to make his mark and for team-mate Oscar's role to be an even more prominent one but there is no doubt Brazil will spend the days between now and Tuesday's semi-final against Germany coming to terms with this loss. It was a sad end to a spectacular occasion in Fortaleza, from the extended rendition of Brazil's national anthem to the sweep of yellow shirts - broken only by those choosing to wear the red of Colombia's away kit - and the thunderous noise that did not let up for 90 minutes. This was what Scolari called "the fifth step" on the road to the World Cup and redemption for Brazil as this country seeks to expunge the still bitter memories of the defeat by Uruguay in the final in Rio 1950. This may seem like a lifetime ago but it remains almost like yesterday for so many in Brazil who recall it as their darkest sporting day. The roadshow now moves to Belo Horizonte for Scolari's sixth step. The dream lives on but there was no disguising Brazil's pain and concern at having to try and complete the final part of the journey without, in their eyes, the World Cup's biggest star.
Robbed of their talisman and star through injury, and also their captain through suspension, Brazil face a German side next that are showing the worrying and devastating signs of improvement and efficiency. Balanced in midfield and looking more sturdy in defence, Germany knocked out a very good side in the French and will now fancy their chances of overturning the hosts more than ever. Joachim Low will undoubtedly have some sympathy with Luiz Felipe Scolari, having also lost his star young attacker, Marco Reus, to injury just before the competition. But the Germans have had time to adapt, to rethink, as well as boasting far more strength in depth in these areas. Scolari? Well he has a frenzied couple of days ahead. Brazil are now presented with the impossible task of replacing their best player. Bernard - jinky and joyful on the ball but physically slight and prone to disappearing - would be the most like-for-like replacement perhaps, but Willian and Ramires surely have better chances given their more rounded skill sets and Felipão's innate sense of caution. More than anything though, it isn't about losing Neymar the player as it is losing Neymar the symbol, the name, the brand.
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