BRAZIL STAR NEYMAR has complained that it was “inhumane” to play against Bolivia in La Paz.
The highest capital city in the world at an elevation of over 3,650 metres, it is regarded as one of the toughest away trips in world football as the lack of oxygen complicates matters for visiting players, whereas the hosts are used to the gruelling conditions and their bodies have become accustomed to them.
As such, it was little surprise that Brazil, who have already booked their ticket to World Cup 2018, were held to a scoreless draw there on Thursday.
Neymar has posted a picture on his Instagram feed that underlines just how tough his colleagues found it.
Several players, including the Paris Saint-Germain star, are pictured after the game taking on oxygen.
“Inhumane to play in such conditions,” Neymar said. “Field, altitude, ball… everything was bad! But we were happy for the performance of the team even in these conditions.”
Brazil complete their qualifying calendar with a home fixture against Chile next Tuesday, although it looks doubtful that Neymar’s PSG colleague Thiago Silva will be available after he was withdrawn injured on Thursday.
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What a left hook
@Joe Bloggs: what a chin
I watched this live. The punch from Uzcategui was after the bell. Dirrell himself showed allot class and sportsmanship, approaching Uzcategui to say he forgave him. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for Dirrell’s corner. They started a fight at ringside and then when they eventually got in the ring Dirrell’s uncle carried out this cowardly attack on Uzcategui.
Hopefully he was arrested immediate after and charged with assault.
@SYM-Metal: UPDATE: There is an official police report filed. Mr Leon Lawson is wanted on 2 counts of assault in the 1st and 2nd degree,by the state of Maryland.
Mr Lawson was not arrested at the scene and is still at large. He faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
@SYM-Metal: The bell went when he was swinging. Fair enough it did connect after which is illegal but I don’t think it was 100% intentional.
As for Andre Dirrell, the guy has absolutely no balls whatsoever. It’s sickening how much of a quitter he is. Absolute play acting pretending he couldn’t continue as he knew he had a chance of a DQ win if he quit, it wasn’t as if he was caught with a sucker punch, they were still fighting. He was even getting up and decided to go back down. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt had he not done something similar against Arthur Abraham.
As for his uncle that was despicable, kind of funny I can’t lie, but horrible.
@SYM-Metal: I thought it was marginal if it was late. I think the refs positioning was poor in that situation with dirrell being backed in the corner and uzcategui letting his hands go with the round almost over the ref should have been right on the action,instead of a few yards away. A fighter in the mode of a combo is unlikely to just be able tot stop it when he is already in motion, talking about milliseconds in this instance.
@Seamus Cummins: you could hear Dirrell’s corner telling him to stay down
DJ Khaled should have done more to prevent that
Classy stuff.
Uncle Bam
Poor Dirrell can never catch a break.
@Leon: I think he’s the one catching the breaks and making the most of them.