Elano out of quarter-final
Reuters - Wednesday 30 June 2010, 12:06
JOHANNESBURG - Elano's nagging ankle
injury has ruled him out of Brazil's quarter-final with
Netherlands, prompting him to criticise World Cup referees for
not clamping down on violent play.
Brazil team doctor Jose Luiz Runco said Elano was suffering
a bone bruise, the result of a crunching tackle he received
during Brazil's second group game against Ivory Coast on June
20.
"He can walk and run without changing direction, the problem
is the impact, when he puts weight on it," Runco told reporters.
"The bone is swollen inside, hence the name.
"The treatment is to avoid impact, he can work in a swimming
pool and on the exercise bike.
"He could be better in a few days, a week or a month. We
still hope he can play next week but I can't say that
categorically. He is working intensely so we have to see if
nature can give a helping hand."
Brazil face the Dutch in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Elano had initially shown signs of improvement and had hoped
to play Monday against Chile.
But he felt discomfort on the eve of the match, being
replaced by Dani Alves, and then limped out of a light practice
on Tuesday after again feeling pain in the ankle.
Elano, who was taken off after the tackle in the second half
of the Ivory Coast match, complained that the referee did not
even give a foul.
"I told the referee that he didn't even give a free kick for
a tackle which could have broken my leg," he said. "The same
player then committed another heavy foul on Robinho for which he
should have been sent off.
"They have to have another look at this type of violence
because the people who are losing out are the ones who get
injured.
"In our team, we have players with different characteristics
but you never see our players committing a malicious tackle, in
contrast to some of our opponents."
Elano, who scored in each of Brazil's first two games, said
he was philosophical about what had happened.
"I feel sad occasionally but it passes quickly. I'm very
optimistic. I've been through a lot of difficult things in my
life and this is just another rock on my path.
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