London, June 4 (IANS) Ivory coast striker Didier Drogba is all set to miss the football World Cup after he fractured his elbow in a friendly against Japan at Sion in Switzerland, Friday.
The Chelsea striker had put his country 1-0 ahead with a free-kick in the 15th minute against Japan before going down following a challenge from the Japan defender Tulio Tanaka – off whom Drogba’s goal had deflected in – and he left the pitch in visible distress, The Guardian reported.
‘Of course I am worried, he’s our captain and one of the best players in the world. It was unlucky, he didn’t want to hurt anyone. Football is a game of contact,’ Ivory Coast manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was quoted as saying by the daily.
The injury is a devastating blow to the player, who was hoping to crown what he termed the finest season of his career by leading his country to glory at the first World Cup to be staged in Africa. At the age of 32, it is unlikely he will have another opportunity to play at the World Cup.
The loss of player who has scored 44 goals in 69 appearances for his country – and hit 37 in all competitions for Chelsea this season – severely damages the Elephants’ chances of making an impact in South Africa.
Ivory Coast are in the group of death with Brazil and Portugal and North Korea.
