Reuters/Manaus

 

Croatia playmaker Luka Modric could miss the World Cup Group A clash with Cameroon on Wednesday after suffering a foot injury in the 3-1 opening defeat by hosts Brazil, coach Niko Kovac said on Friday.

Modric went down after a sliding challenge from Brazil midfielder Gustavo Luiz late in the game and stayed in Salvador for a scan after the rest of the squad returned to their Praia do Forte base.

“The team doctors went with him and we will see what the situation is after a thorough check-up and a scan,” Kovac told Croatian television.

“He took a strong hit and hopefully it’s nothing serious but it’s swollen and he is in a lot of pain.”

Modric’s absence from the game in the hot and humid Amazon city of Manaus would be a further blow to Croatia who were battling injuries and suspensions before the tournament even started.

Striker Mario Mandzukic was banned for the Brazil game but will return against the west Africans.

The game in northern Brazil will virtually be a must-win match for both sides after Cameroon lost 1-0 to Mexico on Friday.

 

Portugal star Ronaldo trains at full capacity

 

Sao Paulo: Cristiano Ronaldo trained at near full capacity yesterday but was noticeably protective of his recovering left knee, two days ahead of Portugal’s World Cup opener against Germany.

The star striker took a full part in warm-ups in front of the watching media but he was careful not to put his full weight on the strapped knee as the squad went through some jumping drills.

All eyes have been on Ronaldo’s recovery from thigh and knee problems despite his return to play 65 minutes of Portugal’s final warm-up game against Ireland this week.

The Real Madrid forward, whose form and fitness will be vital to Portugal’s chances, sparked fears of a recurrence of the knee problem when he had it iced after training on Thursday.

On Friday, up-and-coming midfielder William Carvalho gave assurances that Ronaldo was “now 100 percent fit”.

Tomorrow’s Group G clash in Salvador is a re-run of Portugal’s Euro 2012 opener against Germany, when they went down 1-0 to a second-half Mario Gomez goal.

 

Algeria coach worried about refereeing standards

 

Sao Paulo: Algeria’s national coach Vahid Halilhodzic has criticised World Cup referees ahead of his side’s first game against Belgium on Tuesday, saying he fears refereeing mistakes more than the Red Devils.

“What happened in the game between Croatia and Brazil is a scandal,” he told Belgium’s Het Nieuwsblad newspaper in remarks published yeterday. “I am more worried about the referee than about Belgium.

 

Iran President promises bonus if they make next round

 

Tehran: Iran’s football players will get a bonus if they win through to the next round of the World Cup in Brazil, President Hassan Rohani promised yesterday.

Rohani, addressing a press conference in Tehran, had this message for the team: “If you bestow good news on us regarding your progress, then we will also do something for you.”

The president said that, despite economic problems in Iran, he would ensure that “somehow” money would be raised - without saying how much.

Iran, widely regarded as outsiders in the tournament, play their first game in Group F tomorrow against Nigeria in Curitiba, and will also face Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina.