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World Cup Diary: Amrabat out of hospital but also out of next game

June 17, 2018 13:14 IST

Following a clash of heads with Iran's Vahid Amiri, Morocco winger Nordin Amrabat spent one night in hospital before being discharged and allowed to return to the team base in Voronezh, some 500 km south of Moscow.

Norin Amrabat

IMAGE: Morocco's players check on Nordin Amrabat who went down with injury after a clash of heads Iran's Vahid Amiri in St Petersburg on Friday. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Morocco winger Nordin Amrabat has been discharged from hospital but he will not play in the side's next World Cup Group B clash against Portugal on Wednesday after suffering concussion in the 1-0 loss to Iran, officials said.

 

Amrabat was withdrawn after a 72nd-minute clash of heads with Iran's Vahid Amiri in St Petersburg on Friday as the north Africans were beaten in their opening game at the tournament.

The pair were chasing a loose ball down the touchline when Amrabat sprinted into the back of Amiri, hitting his head against that of his opponent.

Amrabat spent one night in hospital before being discharged and allowed to return to the team base in Voronezh, some 500 km south of Moscow.

However, he would be unavailable for at least a week, a statement from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said.

Morocco's medical team have since been criticised for slapping the player around the cheeks as they treated him when it seemed obvious he had suffered a serious blow to the head and his legs were wobbly.

Amrabat was replaced by his younger brother Sofyan for the final stages of the game.

Morocco meet Portugal at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium in a match they must win if they hope to stand any chance of advancing in the tournament.

England's Delph ready to miss a game to be at birth

Fabian Delph

IMAGE: England midfielder Fabian Delph's wife Natalie's due date is June 30, two days after England's final group game against Belgium in Kaliningrad. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

England midfielder Fabian Delph is ready to miss a World Cup match in order to be present at the birth of his third child, the Manchester City player said on Saturday.

Delph's wife Natalie's due date is June 30, two days after England's final group game against Belgium in Kaliningrad.

England's support staff are ready to provide the player a plane to get home as soon as he gets word of an impending birth and then jet him back to Russia to rejoin the squad.

"Obviously I would have to get back to England and then get back again and obviously that it is not ideal but it is part of life," he said.

"We are about to have a third child and I am not about to miss it if I can help it but I want to get back as fast as I can – we will have to see."

If England finish top of Group G, they will have a four-day gap before their second-round match in Rostov-on-Don.

Should they finish runners-up, Delph will have an extra day to complete his journey, before the second-round match in Moscow on July 3.

Delph said his team mates are behind his plan which has been cleared with manager Gareth Southgate.

"They are fine about it, Gareth understands how important family is to me, he is the same as well.

"We have spoken about it – he was once at England camp and had to fly back for the birth of his child. He got back ten minutes before, he said. Hopefully I can do the same," added the versatile Delph, who is not expected to start England's opening game against Tunisia on Monday.

Delph said that he would have no hesitation in making the trip, even if he knew that he was due to start a game.

"Absolutely – we have got a fantastic squad, great players and if I am selected to play and then have to go back to see my family there are players more than capable of doing the job that I can do, if not better, so I am confident with that decision," he said.

Source: REUTERS
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