Cavani has swollen calf, not tear, as France loom

: Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani has a painful calf swelling but not a muscle tear, the country’s football federation (FCF) said on Monday, increasing his chances of being fit for Friday’s World Cup quarter-final with France. A scan showed swelling in Cavani’s left calf muscle but no torn fibres, the FCF said in a statement.

NIZHNY NOVGOROD

COURTOIS SETS IT GOING

After comfortably gripping a Japan corner-kick, Belgium goalkeeper Thibout Courtois immediately looks for an opportunity to start a move

DE BRUYNE GOES ON A RUN

Courtois finds Kevin De Bruyne just outside his penalty area and the Belgium playmaker embarks on a run chewing up a lot of empty space

MEUNIER READS DE BRUYNE’S MIND

On the right, Thomas Meunier seems to have read De Bruyne’s mind and he scooters down the flank to create options for a pass

MEUNIER MEETS THE BALL AND PLAYS IT IN

With a host of Japan players desperately scampering back, Meunier sees he has an option in Romelu Lukaku to make the break count

A DUMMY WORTH A MILLION STRIKES

Lukaku runs in to meet the ball from Meunier and then makes the biggest contribution by selling a dummy for Nacer Chadli to race in and score MEUNIER DE BRUYNE CHADLI