Cavani injury mystery

MATT BARLOW

EDINSON CAvANI remains a major doubt for today’s quarter-final with France after Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez refused to provide an update on the striker’s injury. The Paris Saint-Germain star scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Portugal before hobbling off with a calf problem. He trained separately from his team-mates yesterday before 71-year-old Tabarez snapped at journalists he claims have an agenda. Angry at speculation over Cavani’s condition, the manager said: ‘We issued a press release explaining exactly what kind of exams he had to go through and nobody respected it. ‘People started asking other professionals, people who are not here and don’t know what is going on. ‘I’m not going to say anything else about Cavani because I have already given enough information and I don’t want to get into games that are convenient for certain journalists who have a style I don’t share. In less than 24 hours you will know who will play and who will be on the bench.’ Tabarez’s fury may have been exacerbated by some who have dismissed Cavani’s injury as a ruse. The 31-year-old’s absence would certainly be a blow for Uruguay as he has continued his prolific partnership with Luis Suarez in Russia, scoring three times in four successive wins. Tabarez, who is set to take charge of his 186th game as national coach and 21st at a World Cup, said he has been impressed by his top scorer’s attempts to regain fitness. ‘As soon as he got injured, he started working hard to recover,’ said Tabarez. ‘He is concentrating on his dreams and that is what he’s doing right now.’