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Ivory Coast and Chelsea star Didier Drogba was substituted 15 minutes in to a friendly match against Japan with what appeared to be a small injury to his right side resulting from a normal high tackle. Drogba was then rushed to a hospital with what was later revealed to be a broken arm. This injury will likely force the powerful striker to miss the World Cup Finals although his coach Sven-Goran Eriksson insists that Drogba’s return is “still a possibility”. With this injury, Drogba is the fourth Chelsea star that will miss (or is likely to miss) the upcoming Finals despite. The list also includes Jose Bosingwa, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien who all suffered injuries during the club season.

I’m not entirely sure of FIFA’s rules when it comes to playing with a cast but I can assure you that the Ivory Coast will explore every possibility to have Drogba back on the pitch. The 2010 EPL Golden Boot winner is the best player on that team if not the best player on any African squad both in and out of the World Cup. If he is to miss the Finals, which are likely to be his last, then any hopes the Ivory Coast had of an impressive showing will be severely lessened.