By DAN KARELL
Radamel Falcao isn’t allowing himself to get too carried away, but he’s cautiously optimistic that he’ll still be able to suit up at the 2014 World Cup.
After suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in late January, Falcao has been in a race against time to build up his knee strength and mobility ahead of their June 14th opener vs. Greece.
“We are very optimistic about the response of the knee, but today is very premature to say whether or not I’m going to be at the World Cup,” Falcao told Spanish publication Marca. “There are lots of days from now until the final decision.”
The AS Monaco forward was the star for Jose Pekerman’s Colombia side in World Cup qualifying, scoring nine goals in 13 games to help book Colombia’s ticket to Brazil.
“I’m doing everything possible to go, I would give it everything and it would be ideal, but the first thing is to be well, to recover well,” Falcao said “I cannot allow that my desire and that of my country to be in Brazil to affect the state of my knee.
“I feel very good, the response from the knee in the first phase of the recuperation has been positive. There hasn’t been any problem and this has allowed me to work well. The healing has been quick.”
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IBRAHIMOVIC RULES OUT MOVE TO ENGLAND
The English Premier League won’t be home to one of Europe’s greatest strikers, according to the man himself.
Speaking at a press conference, Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic stated his desire to remain with PSG and ruled out a move to England, saying he won’t regret not having played there. Ibrahimovic nearly moved to Arsenal as a teenager but he rejected the trial offer and eventually signed with Ajax.
“I have respect for the Premier League, a great competition with good individual players and I haven’t been part of it… I’ve made stories in other countries. It’s nothing that I regret,” Ibrahimovic told reporters. “This is my last contract in Europe, so to win it I have to win the Champions League with Paris. The day I leave Paris, I either go down a level or quit football. I’m very happy.
“I have a contract until 2016 and, after that, I don’t know the future. Maybe my mind is old. Maybe I’m tired. I don’t know. It’s far away from today. I’m very happy with this situation, how it is here. The club is doing an amazing job to become like the other European top clubs. I’ve seen big changes in the two years, developments on and off the field that I haven’t seen elsewhere.
QUICK KICKS
The FA have unveiled the new England home and away kits to be worn during the World Cup and into this fall and next year. (REPORT)
Real Madrid left back Marcelo is expected to miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, which could keep him out of the Copa Del Rey final. (REPORT)
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke is expected to hand manager Arsene Wenger a transfer budget of more than £100 million this summer. (REPORT)
Speculation is afoot in Uruguay that due to governmental action in local football, FIFA could interpret it as the government interfering with the National FA and could potentially ban Uruguay from the World Cup. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Falcao recovering in time? Do you think that Ibrahimovic should move to an EPL club?
Share your thoughts below.
No Tuesday UCL commentary? Barca is very lucky not to be down early.
Odd I know… manu Bayern is very cagy.
Bayern better. But Manu could be winning. And ya… Neuers reputation is deserved.
big bummer for Marcelo, we need him. the other problem is that it gives Coentrao a run of consistent games. i was happy with him playing a very limited role at Madrid so that he is rusty come the World Cup.
I have zero interest in a player coming MLS and openly admitting it to be a step down.
Might be true, but, not interested in having that kind of news floating around.
come on dude…
it’s already floating around and well-known. MLS is a step down from France and England.
A step down ? You are very lenient…
Possibly ban Uruguay? No, F’ing, way.
He’ll be 36 by that time…..but I’m sure he will still be top class
“The day I leave Paris, I either go down a level or quit football. I’m very happy.”
So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance?!
“This is my last contract in Europe, so to win it I have to win the Champions League with Paris. The day I leave Paris, I either go down a level or quit football. I’m very happy.”
Welcome to MLS Ibrah!
Hopefully so!
No collar on the England kits. Nice crest, too. We got their hand-me-downs.