Cote D'Ivoire Beat Japan 2-0 In Friendly Win

Posted Saturday, June 05, 2010 by Goal.com

Captain limps off pitch as concerns grow over suspected elbow fracture injury...

Cote D'Ivoire beat Japan 2-0 in a pre-World Cup warm up match on Friday in Sion, Switzerland. But coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will see the result as a loss after losing captain Didier Drogba to a suspected fractured elbow.

It was Drogba who helped his side on their way after 12 minutes when his powerful free-kick from range took a wicked deflection off Marcus Tulio Tanaka to beat a stranded Eiji Kawashima in goal.

But, just a few minutes later the Chelsea forward clashed with the same Tanaka following a high challenge from the Japan defender which left Drogba in pain. Medics rushed to the pitch, but the hitman refused to be stretchered off, prefering to limp off as Seydou Doumbia replaced him.

The African side then sealed the win late on when Kolo Toure struck on 80 minutes. The defender came from nowhere to smash home a half-volley following a free kick from the far side. Kawashima was comfortably beaten the the shot rippled the net.

Despite the win though concerns are growing over Drogba's injury. The latest reports is that the striker was taken to hospital for checks. Eriksson will be hoping the injury is not serious with just a week to go before kick off in South Africa.

Despite early speculation in relation to a fractured elbow, Reuters press agency are reporting the injury as being a groin porblem, but there has not been any official confirmation from the Cote D'Ivoire delegation.

Cote D'Ivoire play Brazil, Portugal and North Korea in their Group G round of fixtures.