Injury stalks Ivory Coast, Portugal WC clash
Monday, 14 June 2010
PORT ELIZABETH, June 13 (AFP): On paper Tuesday's World Cup confrontation between Ivory Coast and Portugal should be one of the gems of the first round.
Yet the build-up to the mouthwatering meeting of some of the top stars from Europe and Africa at Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay stadium has been clouded by injury.
Portugal, making their fifth appearance in the competition, were rocked last week by a collarbone injury to Nani which has ruled the Manchester United winger out of contention.
Ivory Coast, first round casualties on their World Cup debut in 2006, had already been hit even harder with the broken arm suffered by their superstar skipper Didier Drogba in a warm up match against Japan on June 4.
The Chelsea striker underwent surgery and amazingly could still take part - he joined in a training session with his damaged arm in a sling last Friday.
"He is feeling better and better each day," said the former England and Mexico boss who took over the Elephants after January's Africa Cup of Nations.
Drogba, 32, is following an individual programme with his right arm in a splint.
Swede Eriksson is planning to leave a decision about Drogba's participation until just before kick-off.
How crucial he is to the west Africans was evident as his teammates missed a host of chances in a 1-1 drawm in a warm-up against Swiss second division outfit Lausanne last Tuesday.
While Ivory Coast, one of six African sides in this first ever World Cup on the continent, sailed through qualifying to top their group, Portugal only secured their ticket with a play-off win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Yet the build-up to the mouthwatering meeting of some of the top stars from Europe and Africa at Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay stadium has been clouded by injury.
Portugal, making their fifth appearance in the competition, were rocked last week by a collarbone injury to Nani which has ruled the Manchester United winger out of contention.
Ivory Coast, first round casualties on their World Cup debut in 2006, had already been hit even harder with the broken arm suffered by their superstar skipper Didier Drogba in a warm up match against Japan on June 4.
The Chelsea striker underwent surgery and amazingly could still take part - he joined in a training session with his damaged arm in a sling last Friday.
"He is feeling better and better each day," said the former England and Mexico boss who took over the Elephants after January's Africa Cup of Nations.
Drogba, 32, is following an individual programme with his right arm in a splint.
Swede Eriksson is planning to leave a decision about Drogba's participation until just before kick-off.
How crucial he is to the west Africans was evident as his teammates missed a host of chances in a 1-1 drawm in a warm-up against Swiss second division outfit Lausanne last Tuesday.
While Ivory Coast, one of six African sides in this first ever World Cup on the continent, sailed through qualifying to top their group, Portugal only secured their ticket with a play-off win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.