Neymar gave a thumbs up as he arrived at Narita International Airport, Japan, for the Club World Cup, but is battling a groin injury that could limit his playing time.

Neymar was missing from training yesterday, as European champion Barcelona started its preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

The influential Brazilian forward suffered a groin injury in Germany last week during a training session for the Champions League match with Bayer Leverkusen, which ended 1-1.

He is rated very doubtful for Barcelona's semifinal showdown with China's Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday.

Barcelona was greeted by 226 children from its soccer school in Tokyo when stepping on to the pitch at the Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama. The children then sang the club's anthem, "El Cant del Barca," as the players looked on.

Barcelona, which is bidding for a third Club World Cup title, is the tournament favorite but the Spanish club has not won in three matches, while Guangzhou is on a 28-match unbeaten run stretching back to May, shortly before World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari took charge.

Guangzhou — which beat Club America of Mexico 2-1 in the previous round — won the Asian Champions League title last month.

Barring an upset, Argentina's River Plate will await the European champion in the final in Yokohama on December 20. But the South Americans first have to beat J-League title holder Sanfrecce Hiroshima in tomorrow's first semifinal in Osaka.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)