Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba could be making a sensational return to his country’s starting lineup against Portugal in their Group G opener as coach Sven Goran Eriksson has asked FIFA for permission to play the striker wearing a protective cast around his broken elbow.
Drogba suffered his injury against Japan in a World Cup warmup friendly and initial fears were that the Chelsea hitman would miss the entire tournament. However, emergency surgery performed right after the match has served to downplay those concerns, although his elbow will now have to be set in a cast as it heals.
Drogba returned to first team training with the squad yesterday and Eriksson revealed that he has already officially requested FIFA to provide special dispensation to allow the player to step onto the pitch with an arm cast.
However, Eriksson refused to get carried away with growing expectations that Drogba would make a miraculous comeback to raise African football fans’ hopes that he could lead the Elephants to victory against a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal.
“We are going to make a decision tomorrow after lunch and I obviously hope that Didier plays,” Eriksson said.
“There was a FIFA meeting this afternoon, the people have not come back yet. I will see them now, and we will find out if the referee allowed the cast (which lets Drogba play).”
Eriksson also said that should FIFA give the go ahead, Drogba will be in the right condition to lead his team mates despite suffering the break only eight days ago.
“Tomorrow is eight days since the breakage, a short time, and we think he will play in the tournament,” Eriksson insisted.
“We did not call up anyone else, so that says everything. We hope that he will play tomorrow.”
Ivory Coast will attempt to become only the second African team in the World Cup 2010 finals so far to win a game in the first series of games played in the group stage. Ghana beat Serbia 1-0 two days ago to become the first side to do so from the continent.
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Tags: Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast, Portugal, Portugal vs Ivory Coast live, World Cup 2010
