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Yaya Toure facing fitness race

Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi has said he is unsure whether Yaya Toure will be available to start the team's World Cup opener against Japan.

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The Manchester City midfielder had been struggling with a muscle injury towards the end of the Premier League season and limped off towards the end of the club's final game against West Ham.

Toure -- who said he could end his international career after this summer's tournament -- did not take part in his country's warm-up games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and El Salvador, and Lamouchi said he is a doubt for the Group C opener on June 14.

"He ended the season with difficulties," Lamouchi was quoted as saying by Jeune Afrique. "He is yet to fully train with the group but he's currently responding to a healing protocol.

"We will do our best to make him fit to play against Japan in our opener. He might start or come in as a substitute. I can't really tell for now."

Ivory Coast also face Colombia and Greece in Group C.