Brazil's Douglas Costa ruled out of clash with Serbia

Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-24 02:21:08|Editor: yan
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SOCHI, Russia, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Douglas Costa will miss Brazil's World Cup Group E duel with Serbia because of a hamstring strain, team officials said on Saturday.

The Juventus winger suffered the injury after coming on as a substitute in Brazil's 2-0 win over Costa Rica in Saint Petersburg on Friday.

Scans at the team's training base in Sochi on Saturday showed a muscle tear and the 27-year-old will not travel to Moscow for Wednesday's clash at Spartak Stadium.

"Yesterday, at the end of the game, Douglas Costa complained of pain in the back of his right thigh," team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said. "It's been diagnosed as a small muscle injury, so he will not travel with us."

Costa's plight is the latest injury setback to hit Brazil's World Cup squad. Right-back Danilo missed Friday's match with a thigh problem while midfielder Fred is also unavailable due to an ankle complaint.

To make matters worse, coach Tite was injured after celebrating a goal during the match against Costa Rica.

"We are in a situation where even the coach was injured," Lasmar said. "This is unheard of in my career. He had a small muscle injury in the thigh area, but nothing to worry about.

"He even said that his main job is to use his head. He started doing some work in physical therapy, recovery, but he's OK."

In better news for the five-time World Cup winners, Lasmar said that forward Neymar has recovered from an ankle injury sustained against Switzerland in Brazil's opener last Sunday.

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