Football
Associated Press 10y

Foot injury bothering Luka Modric

SALVADOR, Brazil -- Luka Modric is a doubt for Croatia's next World Cup match against Cameroon after picking up a foot injury in his side's loss to Brazil in the tournament opener.

Croatia team officials said on Friday that Modric was taken to a hospital in Salvador, near the squad's training base, to check the extent of his injury after feeling pain.

Modric's absence in the June 18 match against Cameroon would be a major blow for Croatia, who lost 3-1 to Brazil on Thursday and is bottom of Group A.

The skillful Real Madrid midfielder is the backbone of the powerful Croatian midfield.

"God forbid that the injury is serious," Croatia coach Niko Kovac said.

Kovac said he won't make additional comments about the officiating by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura in the match against Brazil that included a contentious penalty call for the hosts.

"I hope that it will be the last time that we talk about referees," Kovac said. "Now we focus on the match against Cameroon.''

After the Thursday opener, Kovac was furious about the refereeing, calling it a "robbery" and "shame."

"What we have showed on the (pitch) was great," Kovac said. "What I can see in players' eyes is their desire to make up for what we have lost in the opener."

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