Portugal's Alves joins injured list

Manaus (Brazil), June 21 (IANS/EFE) Portuguese defender Bruno Alves suffered a muscle injury to join the list of injured players who will miss the FIFA World Cup Group G game against the United States here Sunday.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said that the Fenerbahçe defender suffered a muscle strain in his left thigh and will miss the team's training session. Alves will receive needed treatment, reports EFE.

Alves's absence will push national coach Paulo Bento to reshuffle his defence line-up after Pepe received a red card against Germany for head-butting Thomas Mueller.

The probables to play in defence against US are Luis Neto and Ricardo Costa.

Alves is the latest to join the list of injured Portuguese players after forward Hugo Almeida, goalkeeper Rui Patricio and Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao.

--IANS/EFE

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