Cavani injury could cost Uruguay crucial part of their fear factor

Their disappointment was still raw but neither Bernardo Silva nor Jose Fonte needed much invitation to lavish praise on the two strikers who had just crushed their World Cup dream.

Listening to those Portugal players discuss Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, it was apparent how damaging a calf injury to the former could be to Uruguay’s hopes of winning a third World Cup.

There were unsubstantiated reports circulating last night of Cavani being out for at least a month, but even a minor strain would put his participation in Friday’s quarter-final against France in Nizhny Novgorod in serious doubt.

It certainly did not look good as he was helped from the pitch, in visible pain, by Cristiano Ronaldo, just 12 minutes after scoring the second of two stunning goals to dispatch Portugal.

“When those two are like that, we can beat anybody,” Diego Godin, Uruguay’s captain, said of the pair. There is little doubt that Oscar Tabarez’s side would lose some of their fear factor, and Suarez his perfect foil, if Cavani is missing.

“They will give problems to any defenders,” Fonte said. Silva elaborated. “They work a lot offensively and defensively,” the Manchester City playmaker said.

Even without Cavani, Fonte and Silva believe Uruguay are physically and mentally strong enough throughout their side to make life difficult for any team. Uruguay Portugal Booked Referee Subs