RIO DE JANEIRO, July 05, /ITAR-TASS/. Brazilian striker Neymar will have to stay off the pitch till the end of the 2014 World Football Cup due to injury suffered in the quarterfinal encounter with Colombia, the team’s coach said.

The incident occurred in the 88th minute of the match, which ended with the host’s 2-1 win. Colombia’s defender Juan Zunuiga hit Neymar in the back with a knee. The referee confined himself to a verbal warning. Neymar had to be carried away on stretchers. He was taken to hospital immediately after the match.

Medical examination identified a damage of the third vertebra. Recovery will take an estimated four to eight weeks.

At the current world cup Neymar played five matches and scored four goals.