SION, Switzerland — Didier Drogba told teammate Kolo Toure that he will miss the World Cup after breaking his right arm Friday in a warmup match.
“For him, he said, the World Cup is finished,” Toure said.
The 32-year-old Drogba was taken off 15 minutes into Ivory Coast’s 2-0 win over Japan after a high challenge by Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka. He was then rushed to a hospital.
“We can just see on his face that he was sad, and when he is like that you can’t ask more,” Toure said. “It is difficult for us because he is such a really important player.”
Team spokesman Eric Kacou told The Associated Press that “it is a fracture in his right arm,” but coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said the team hadn’t officially ruled out its captain.
“We are not sure yet,” Eriksson said, saying Drogba’s participation was “still a possibility.”
Toure said Ivory Coast’s players were hoping for a surprising recovery, and said the team would know more later Friday.
Tulio said he had no intention of hurting Drogba.
“God and everybody in the stadium saw it was a normal challenge,” said the Brazil-born defender, who was shown a yellow card. “I do hope he gets better in time to play in the World Cup.”
Drogba scored 29 goals in 32 Premier League matches this season, helping Chelsea win the title.
Friday’s friendly was the final warmup for Ivory Coast and Japan before they travel to South Africa. The Ivorians open the World Cup on June 15 against Portugal in Port Elizabeth, while Japan begins a day earlier against Cameroon in Bloemfontein.
Drogba appeared to be holding his right side after Tulio’s challenge. After returning from the hospital, the striker entered the team bus without speaking to reporters.
Eriksson said the injury was unlucky, and didn’t blame Tulio.
“It wasn’t bad or stupid. He didn’t want to hurt anyone,” the Swedish coach said. “Football is a game of contact.”
I’m going to be glued to my chair watching the World Cup!
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Forget Brazil, Argentina, Italy. This is the year the USA finally pulls it off. It’s a lock! Go USA!
Come on Argentina! Whip some Nigerian ass!
I hate watching the World Cup Soccer
Great start for the USA. Lucky, but good. Can’t wait for the next game.
Thanks for sharing your input with the world. Speaking of the World, enjoying the World Cup?
Anyone else feel a little slighted with a 1-1 tie after all that buildup?
I can’t believe France is out. That was a quick exit. I just believed that they had a good shot to do well in this years world cup. I guess I will have to wait. Maybe its time to jump on the Argentina bandwagon. Looks like Demichelis has already scored. Go Argentina. To make me feel better from that devistating loss by France, I have been watching some funny jokes.. This one made me laugh really hard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3j7uSbccSc
What a great game, I can’t believe Spain did that.
Paraguay breakthroughs to the quarter finals of the World Cup! Who’d have thought so?