BREAKING NEWS: CHELSEA STAR WILLIAN READY TO REPLACE NEYMAR WILLIAN insists he will do his best to fill Neymars Brazilian boots - but dont expect too much. NEYMAR AT FIRST FEARED TO BE PARALYSED AFTER BEING WHACKED IN THE BACK BY ZUNIGA Brazil legend Ronaldo claims Zuniga deserves to be punished and feel the wrath of a nation. Who is Willian Borges da Silva better known as Willian? The 25 years old and only 1,74 (58) tall midfielder is married to Vanessa Martins and has two little daughters, Manuela and Valentina. He started his career at Corinthians, before joining Shakhtar in August 2007 for a fee of €14 million. After six years at the Ukrainian club, he briefly signed for Anzhi Makhachkala before joining Chelsea for £32 million. Willian made his debut for Brazil in 2011 and represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The hosts face Germany tomorrow in their World Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte still in a state of shock after the loss of their superstar striker. The Brazilian suffered a broken back following a challenge from Colombias Juan Zuniga in Brazils 2-1 win on Friday. Boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admits Chelsea star Willian is the man most likely to be handed the poisoned chalice of replacing their talisman. But Willian has warned a nation of 200 million not to expect too much from him. Neymar is a reference in the Brazilian team, said Willian. He is our benchmark player who can decide a game on his own. There is no comparing him to me, I cant do it. Neymar has a lot of qualities. I have a different style, although we are similar in some ways, like our speed and dribbling capabilities. But Neymar is a striker and Im a midfielder. Neymar scores a lot of goals. I score a few, but my game is more about serving my team-mates. I am ready and if I am chosen I will do my very best. Scolari admitted Neymar at first feared he was paralysed after being whacked in the back by Zuniga. Marcelo ran up to Neymar and asked him how he was feeling and he told him I cant feel my legs, said Scolari. Its equivalent to a catastrophe. But Brazils team doctor Jose Luiz Runco said: He does not have any neurological injury that would compromise his life as an athlete or a human being. He will be out for 40-45 days. Debate is raging in Brazil as to whether Zuniga deliberately injured Neymar. FIFA are reviewing the incident as Zuniga was not booked at the time for cracking Neymars vertebrae with his knee. Brazil legend Ronaldo claims Zuniga deserves to be punished and feel the wrath of a nation. But Willian said: I dont think he thought he was going to break Neymars back. I dont think he would be that mean to do it on purpose. But, unfortunately, he went in too strong and he didnt need to do that. It was disproportionate. But we have to forget about that and concentrate on Germany. Shahktar Donetesk midfielder Bernard claims Neymar is still their insipration. Even though Neymar is very sad, he has tried to support us, he said. He said he would be with us and send us his positive energy. It is a big loss not only for the player he is but the human being he is too. He is always happy, always smiling, so we have lost that influence as well. Meanwhile, Brazil hope to overturn captain Thiago Silvas ban for ther Germany clash. Silva picked up his second booking of the tournament for a block on Colombia keeper David Ospina, earning him a one match ban.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 06:24:33 +0000
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