Neymar ‘not yet at 100pc’

Neymar admitted on Sunday that he is not 100 percent in shape after a week’s training with Brazil in its World Cup preparations. The striker said he still feels discomfort in his recovering right foot but believes he will be better for the tournament in Russia, which begins June 14. “Physically I am well, my foot is fine. I am adapting in a few things. I still feel some discomfort, but it is not something that will trouble me,” the 26-yearold Neymar told journalists at Brazil’s football confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Asked how well he was feeling now, Neymar answered: “Not 100 per cent yet. But that comes with time. It is normal that I have this fear of making complete movements. Let’s take it easy, there are still many days until the (World Cup) opener and I will be 100 percent then.” Neymar has not played a match since February but hopes to be on the pitch again in Brazil’s friendly against Croatia on June 3 in Liverpool. “I am ready to play, there is nothing that can stop me,” he said. “What I feel today is this fear because I am coming back.” The Brazilian was forced to leave the 2014 World Cup with a vertebral fracture in the 2-1 victory against Colombia in the quarterfinals. “I hope that dream is not interrupted once more and that it is consolidated with a title for us,” Neymar said.