Neymar calf injury clouds Brazil World Cup opener plans

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Neymar’s availability for Brazil’s early World Cup assignment is uncertain after a calf problem ruled him out of immediate action, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Thursday. Lasmar said an MRI showed a grade-two muscle injury and the 34-year-old Santos forward is expected to need two to three weeks before he can return. Neymar will sit out Brazil’s pre-tournament warm-up matches with Panama and Egypt, and he could also miss the June 13 opener against Morocco.