Portugal coach Fernando Santos says the team “doesn’t understand how” midfielder Danilo Pereira fractured his ribs in training this week.
The Paris St-Germain star, 31, is set to miss the remainder of the World Cup group stage, including Monday’s game against Uruguay.
Pereira was in the starting lineup for the 3-2 win over Ghana Thursday.
“It’s a type of injury that nobody can explain. We don’t understand how it could have happened,” Santos said.
“It’s normal for these injuries to happen, but we didn’t see exactly how it happened. Initially we didn’t think it was very serious.
“We had a few tests to see if he was breathing properly and apparently he was, but afterwards we saw that it was more serious. We are monitoring that.
“I’m not a doctor, so I can’t talk about it in detail, but as far as I know, he’s progressing positively. We expect him to [back] soon but otherwise we have three other midfielders who can replace him.
“We don’t need to have any drama or cry over it. We are very sad for him. We have to see him as a human being beyond being a player.
“He’s someone with very positive energy and I’m sure he’ll send us good vibes.”
TEAM NEWS
Portugal don’t have any other injury problems apart from Pereira.
Uruguayan central defender Ronald Araujo, who underwent thigh surgery at the end of September, is still not expected to play on Monday.
MATCH FACTS
- Portugal have won just one of their last nine meetings with South American nations in all competitions (D3 L5), beating Argentina 1-0 in a friendly in November 2014.
- Uruguay failed to score in their last two World Cup matches – only once in three consecutive matches at the tournament (between 1986 and 1990).
- Uruguay have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five World Cup group stage matches – no team has ever done so in six consecutive group matches in the competition’s history.
- Portugal have lost just one of their last 13 World Cup group stage matches (W7 D5).
