Over and out
Brazil’s Danilo will miss rest of World Cup with ankle injury
Brazil right back Danilo is out of the World Cup after injuring his ankle in training.
The Brazilian soccer federation said Danilo suffered a ligament injury in his left ankle during the team’s training session in Kazan on Thursday, a day before Brazil plays Belgium in the quarterfinals.
The federation said early Friday that tests confirmed the player will not be able to recover in time to play again during the tournament in Russia.
The Manchester City player will remain with the squad while undergoing treatment.
TAVAREZ STATUS UP IN AIR
Uruguay coach Oscar
Tabarez is not saying whether striker Edinson
Cavani has recovered from a left calf injury to play against France in the World Cup quarterfinals on
Friday.
Tabarez says on the eve of the game that he doesn’t want to reveal “that information” because he believes it will give France an advantage to know if the Paris Saint-Germain striker will play.
“I cannot give you all my information,” Tabarez said Thursday. “We don’t get all the information from the French team.”
The veteran coach adds “in less than 24 hours, you will know who will play and who will be on the bench.”
Cavani has scored three of Uruguay’s seven goals at the World Cup, including both in a 2-1 win over Portugal in the round of 16. He was injured near the end of that game last Saturday.
RONALDO GRATEFUL
Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent has told Portuguese media that the player would be “eternally grateful” to the Spanish club if he ends up leaving.
Jorge Mendes was quoted as saying that Ronaldo would always be grateful to “the club, the president, the directors, the medical staff, all the workers without exception and all the Madrid fans around the world.”
Local media in Spain and Italy claim Ronaldo has already reached a deal to sign with Juventus, although neither club has officially confirmed the negotiations.
Mendes was quoted by Record on Thursday as saying that “if that happens, it will be just a new phase and a new challenge in his brilliant career.”
PAY UP, CROATIA
FIFA has fined Croatia’s soccer federation $70,500 for an ambush marketing incident by players during a World Cup game.
The sum is a seven-fold increase on the fine FIFA imposed on Russia’s soccer body for a fan’s neo-Nazi banner at a game.
FIFA says its disciplinary panel fined Croatia for “the display of non-authorized beverage products” by players during their round of 16 win against Denmark on Sunday. Croatia advanced after a penalty shootout in