Ivory Coast striker' Didier Drogba could miss first game of World Cup 2010 after fracturing arm

Superstar's World Cup dream stays alive...

By Matt Monaghan

4 Jun 2010 16:06:00

Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba is set to miss just the opening fixture of the World Cup in South Africa after suffering a fractured elbow of his right arm on Friday, according to L'Equipe.

The Chelsea striker had been expected to be ruled out of the entire tournament. Fresh reports have instead stated after receiving a scan this afternoon he will go under the surgeon's knife and miss just 10 days action

This puts Drogba back in contention to feature against Brazil on June 20 after sitting out the nation's opening Group G clash against Portugal in 11 day's time.

Playing in his side's warm-up game against Japan in Sion, Switzerland, he went down in agony after just 15 minutes of the game had passed, following an awkward challenge from Japan's Brazilian-born defender Tulio Tanaka.

He was swiftly replaced by CSKA Moscow centre forward Seydou Doumbia, and left the pitch in visible pain clutching his arm.

According to earlier reports, even before arriving at the hospital the striker was adamant the injury would cause him to miss the World Cup.

The standard recovery period for such an injury is around six weeks.

As his country's talisman, Drogba return is a massive boost — especially as the Ivory Coast face a difficult World Cup group with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. He has scored 44 goals in his 69 caps to date for his country.

Speaking to reporters after the match, manager Sven Goran Eriksson expressed his concerns about the situation.

"It is an elbow injury but we don't know how bad it is," Eriksson admitted.

"We are going straight to the hospital and we should get an answer before we leave.

"If it is serious, it is very worrying. He's our captain, one of the best strikers in the world.

"Yes I am worried, of course I am."

Drogba enjoyed a stellar domestic season with Chelsea, leading his side to the double as he also won the Premier League's golden boot. But he struggled with a hernia injury towards the end of the season.

Footage of Didier Drogba's injury can be seen here and highlights of Ivory Coast-Japan can be seen here.