Drogba trains, still doubtful for Cte d'Ivoire opener

SHARPEVILLE, South Africa (AP): Didier Drogba joined his Cte d'Ivoire teammates for practice yesterday but remains in doubt for the team's opening World Cup match against Portugal because of his broken arm.

The captain wore a protective cast and kept his right arm still as he worked on his ball skills and fitness. Drogba was hurt in a friendly against Japan last Friday and had surgery a day later.

"We can't risk any contact at this point," coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said at the team's headquarters in Vanderbijlpark.

Eriksson conceded that Drogba's absence in Tuesday's opening Group G encounter in Port Elizabeth would be a big loss to the team, but that he was working on "a B plan and a C plan as well".

prepared for the worst

Eriksson said Drogba "feels better and better" but the team had "to be prepared for the worst" if he can't play, although the playing system would be "more or less the same".

Cte d'Ivoire are widely considered to be Africa's best hope of lifting the World Cup in a month's time. They are blessed with a wide array of talent, including Drogba's Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure.

However, they have been dealt an extremely tough-looking group - again. After kicking off their World Cup schedule against 2006 semi-finalists Portugal, Cte d'Ivoire face five-time winners Brazil. If they lose both games, then their seemingly easier match against North Korea could be made redundant.

"It's very difficult for all of us," Eriksson said.

This is Cte d'Ivoire's second consecutive World Cup appearance. The team was also in what was considered the most difficult group in Germany in 2006, failing to get past the group stage following defeats against Argentina and the Netherlands.

Eriksson, the Swede who coached England to the quarter-finals in both 2002 and 2006, said Spain and Brazil merited their positions as favourites for the tournament.

"If I bet 100 euros, 50 would be on Spain and 50 on Brazil," Eriksson said.