Drogba sits out training

Didier Drogba sat out training on Saturday but Ivory Coast are still hoping the striker will be fit to face Portugal.
Didier Drogba has been training with his arm in a cast
GettyImagesDidier Drogba has been training with his arm in a cast

Drogba broke his arm in a warm-up match against Japan on June 4 and there were initial fears he could miss the tournament, but he had surgery the day after the game and has made a swift recovery.

Ivory Coast confirmed Drogba missed training on Saturday to visit the team doctors, but Sven-Goran Eriksson is still optimistic about his chances of playing against Portugal in their Group G opener on Tuesday.

A spokesman said: "Didier is back in the hands of the doctors. It doesn't mean anything for the game against Portugal."

Drogba trained with his team-mates on Thursday and Friday wearing a protective cast, and Eriksson said he was still in contention for the first match.

"He's doing well," he said on Friday. "If the match with Portugal was today or Saturday, he wouldn't be able to play, but as the game is in a few days' time, he could be in the team and play. He is feeling better and better each day."