Cavani returns to practice alone after injury ahead of quarterfinal match

Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani on Thursday trained apart from his teammates and touched the ball for the first time since he was injured, less than 24 hours before the quarterfinal match against France as the last eight teams battled it out in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker suffered a left-calf injury during the round of 16 match against Portugal, which La Celeste won 2-1, reported Efe.

Since then, he has been in doubt for Friday's match with France.

Cavani worked out on the pitch of the Borsky sports centre in Nizhny Novgorod and took a short walk, then sprinted, practiced a small slalom with the ball and finally kicked the ball gently.

It still seems unlikely that the PSG star will be in the starting line-up chosen by coach Oscar Tabarez to play France, as he doesn't seem to be fully recovered from his injury.

If he does not play, his substitute would most likely be Girona striker Christian Stuani.

--IANS

kk/vd