World Cup adventure ends for Coentrao

Fabio Coentrao will play no further part in the World Cup after injuring his groin against Germany in Salvador on Monday, the Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed.

The Real Madrid defender was stretchered off the field in the 65th minute of the Group G crunch clash, with Portugal going on to lose the match 4-0.

"I’m afraid that my World Cup has come to an end," Coentrao told reporters immediately after the match. "I think it’s a serious injury, though I hope it’s not. These things happen in our profession and, unfortunately, today it fell to me.

"It’s a very sad day, one of the saddest of my life. But this is just a game and despite the heavy defeat, we can still go through to the next round."

Paulo Bento's men now face an uphill task to qualify for the knockout stage and their cause is not helped by the growing injury list which is depleting the squad.

Striker Hugo Almeida limped off midway through the first half and is now set to miss the rest of the group stage, while captain and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo has been struggling with a knee problem.


/Goal.Com/