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Brazil coach Scolari says players can handle Neymar absence

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is confident his players can handle the absence of Neymar for their World Cup semi with Germany.

An incredible wave of sadness followed the news that Neymar had been ruled out.

The players shed tears and many of the 200 million football-mad Brazilians feared how their team would cope without their talisman.

But Scolari has moved on from the incident and he has challenged the rest of his squad to reach the Maracana final for their injured star.

"He has done his share. Now it's up to us to do our share," the Brazil coach said on the eve of the match.

"This match we'll be playing not just for ourselves but for our country, for everything we've ever dreamed of, but also for Neymar and everything he's done for us.

"Within our group, we've accepted that. We've left our sad phase behind and we're focusing on other things."

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