Punters desert Brazil after Neymar injury
THE confirmation that Brazil star Neymar will miss the rest of the World Cup has sparked a major gamble on Germany to win Tuesday’s semi-final against the hosts.
The Germans had initially been priced up at 11-10 to qualify for the final. However, Joachim Low’s men were cut to a best-priced 10-11 as punters responded to the news that Neymar fractured a vertebra in his back during Friday’s win over Colombia.
Brazil will also be without suspended skipper Thiago Silva for the Germany clash and they have drifted to 9-5 with Boylesports, Hills and Paddy Power to win in 90 minutes.
Ladbrokes pushed them out to 7-4 from an opening 5-4 for a victory in normal time.
The tournament hosts are even-money outsiders to qualify with Betfred, Hills and Paddy Power, having been 8-11 favourites to progress immediately after their quarter-final victory.
Neymar has been comfortably the most impressive Brazil attacker at the World Cup and the market doesn’t rate his fellow forwards particularly highly.
Germany pair Miroslav Klose and Thomas Muller head the first-goalscorer betting with Fred (7-1), Jo (15-2) and Hulk (8-1) the shortest-priced Brazil players. Chelsea winger Willian, who could come into the starting 11 on Tuesday, is a 14-1 shot to open the scoring.
Neymar is likely to be sidelined for several weeks and team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said: “Unfortunately, he’s not going to be able to play. It’s not serious in the sense that it doesn’t need surgery, but he’ll need to immobilise it to recover. He is very, very sad.”
Punters who backed the Barcelona star to be the tournament’s top goalscorer will share his pain.
Neymar had been 12-1 second-favourite behind Lionel Messi and he traded as short as 6-4 after his brace against Cameroon on June 23 took his tally to four.
