Don't let Neymar's injury ruin the most exciting game of the World Cup

Neymar grimaces in pain after the Brazilian striker was injured late in the team's quarter-final match against Colombia at the FIFA World Cup.

Neymar has sparkled for Brazil this summer. In front of his home country, in his first World Cup, the Brazilian striker has been nearly flawless. 

Brazil punched its ticket to the semifinals behind another shining performance from the 22-year-old. The team will face Germany Tuesday. Neymar will not.
 

Neymar suffered a fractured third vertebrae in the dying minutes of Brazil’s win over Colombia Friday. According to Brazil’s team doctor, the striker who had scored four goals this World Cup will be out for the remainder of the tournament. 

Neymar’s absence is a crushing blow to Brazil – the team and the country – and for fans, who won’t get to see one of the world’s great young talents appear on the game’s greatest stage.
 

Summary Brazil striker Neymar writhes on the pitch in pain after taking a knee to his lower back late in a World Cup quarterfinal game against Colombia

However the matchup between Brazil and Germany is destined to go down as one of the greatest of the 2014 World Cup, whether Neymar is on the field or not. 

This match features two teams which couldn’t have more conflicting styles if they wanted to. Germany has reached the semifinals through an almost mechanical brand of soccer. It hasn’t been the most entertaining thing to behold Germany ploddingly knock off opponents, but no one can argue the effectiveness. 

On the other hand, Brazil has played with an exuberance rivaled by none. It’s the type of confident, effervescent play that can only be enjoyed by 11 players who know that the entire stadium of 60,000 is behind them. That’s what Brazil has every single match of this World Cup. Bolstered by a nation, Brazil is playing with unbridled creativity and passion.

Now, the world gets to see which brand is the more effective. Not the best style of play, but the one that can get a result. Mechanical and calculated versus creative and free. 

It’s a game featuring an abundance of star power as well. There won’t be Neymar, but there will be a field filled with stars on both sides regardless. Germany’s Thomas Muller has four goals in five matches. Muller will go up against the most talented backline he’s faced to date, led by David Luiz, who does things like this …

 

The field will be riddled with similar matchups. Incredible and contrasting talent clashing for 90 minutes. It’ll be like watching Pollock and Mondrian having a live a paint off … but in cleats and with better hair. 

Neymar will be missed. It would have been a better game with him. 

But Brazil isn’t defined by one player, and neither will this match.