Neymar good to go in training

Neymar is making good progress in his recovery from thigh and knee knocks ahead of Friday's World Cup quarterfinal against Colombia, Brazil's team doctor said on Tuesday.

The Barcelona forward came out of last Saturday's last-16 win against Chile battered and bruised but has undergone treatment at Brazil's Teresopolis training base and will train normally on Wednesday.

"He took a blow to the left thigh and the right knee, but he has been cleared to work alongside the rest of the squad as is recovering very well," said Dr Jose Luiz Runco.

For the second day running, those players who started the epic clash against Chile were restricted to indoor work, and Runco hit back at suggestions in the Brazilian media the team was not training hard enough.

"I need my team to play, not to train," he said.

"They need to rest. They played 120 minutes ... in the afternoon in a game that used up a huge amount of strength, physically and emotionally."

Neymar was one of those who watched a team of Brazilian reserves win a practice match against a youth side from Rio de Janeiro club Fluminense on Tuesday, with Paulinho scoring both goals.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was dropped against Chile after disappointing during the group stage, but is the leading candidate to return against Colombia in the absence of Luiz Gustavo due to suspension.

Ribery a no-show

Injured France star Franck Ribery will not travel to Brazil to cheer on his teammates when they face Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, the French Football Federation said on Tuesday.

Ribery, ruled out of the World Cup after a recurrence of a back injury on the eve of the finals, had been invited to join the squad along with two injured players originally due to travel to Brazil, Steve Mandanda and Clement Grenier.

However, FFF president Noel le Graet said the Bayern Munich star would not be going to Brazil.

"Ribery is on holiday with his family and is recovering," le Graet said.

Le Graet said the FFF was still waiting to hear whether Mandanda, who plays for Marseille, and Grenier (Lyon) would accept invitations to travel to Brazil.