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Home / Sport

Fifa World Cup: Neymar on diving claims: I can't control my reactions

NZ Herald
3 Jul, 2018 07:02 PM3 mins to read

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Brazil's Neymar reacts after being tackled. Photo / AP

Brazil's Neymar reacts after being tackled. Photo / AP

Brazil forward Neymar has defended himself against accusations he over-acted after a challenge during the 2-0 World Cup last-16 win over Mexico, saying: "I just feel the pain."

Neymar, 26, reacted strongly to an incident in which Mexcio's Miguel Layun seemed to stand on his ankle.

Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said the Paris St-Germain player's "acting" is "not a good example for football".

But Neymar said: "It's complicated. It's not something I can control.

'
"I got stepped on unfairly. I think it was off the ball, outside the game. I don't think it should be done.

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"But that's the thing, they talked too much before the game - and now they're going home."

Neymar scored one goal and played a key role in the other as his side set up a quarter-final against Belgium.

However, he has faced accusations of diving.

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Osorio said the incident with Layun halted Mexico's momentum as they chased the game following Neymar's opening goal, and that referee Gianluca Rocchi "favoured Brazil".

"It is a shame for football, we wasted a lot of time because of one player," said the Mexico boss after his side's loss.

"This is a game of men that is played with intensity and not with so much clowning.

"It is a shame for all the people watching, all the children watching. There shouldn't be acting. I think this had an impact on our pace and style.

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"The game totally favoured Brazil. Too many interventions from the referee."

Neymar said the Brazilian players "have to learn to suffer".

"I don't care much for criticism, or praise, because this can influence your attitude," Neymar told TV Globo. "I think it's more an attempt to undermine me than anything else."

Brazil coach Tite defended his player and insisted Layun "stepped on him".

"I saw it on the screen," said Tite. "In the previous match, he was excellent and here he repeated a high-quality performance," he added.

Former England striker Alan Shearer on BBC One: "It was absolutely pathetic. There is no doubting his ability, we saw a backheel, a finish and setting up of the second goal but it is pathetic when he is rolling around pretending to be in agony. Why does he feel the need to do that?"

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Former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann: "If you look at the whole game, how many fouls were there on Neymar? Loads. Was he overreacting for the Layun challenge? Absolutely, but Layun steps on him."

FFS @neymarjr man. STOP IT. We are fed up of it. #BrazilvsMexico

— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) July 2, 2018

Neymar is pathetic.

— Matthew Lewis (@Mattdavelewis) July 2, 2018

Gordon Hayward broke his ankle completely in half and showed about 10 percent of the pain Neymar just did.

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) July 2, 2018

#BRAMEX
Neymar is an Oscar winning actor... pic.twitter.com/aVi6I3fXET

— Mukesh Parmar (@iammukesh1982) July 2, 2018

When someone touches Neymar's foot #BRAMEX pic.twitter.com/UuiDJcSJOM

— mozart (@mozart_so) July 2, 2018

Neymar’s World Cup highlights... https://t.co/hAhfLuvdKY

— David Lovett (@dlovett32) July 2, 2018
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