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Chandler, Ronaldo hobbled
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CAMPINAS, Brazil (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo cut short a training session with Portugal on Thursday, leaving the field with an ice pack over his left knee — indicating that his tendinitis may still be bothering the star forward.

Ronaldo trained with the rest of the team for about 15-20 minutes doing physical exercises but then did not take part in the rest of the session with full ball drills.

Instead, he stretched on his own and signed a few shirts for fans before going to sit on the bench. When he left, he had an ice pack over his left knee.

Ronaldo has been bothered by left leg injuries ahead of the World Cup, and was sidelined for two weeks with tendinitis in the knee and a thigh problem.

However, Portugual midfielder Joao Moutinho said there was nothing to worry about concerning Ronaldo’s health.

“Ever since he started to train with us he has been 100 percent like the rest of us,” Moutinho said. “Everything is fine with him but there is some caution, not only with him. Today many other players were using ice as well. There is nothing to worry about. The ice is normal after training.”



Chandler suffers
minor leg injury

SAO PAULO (AP) — American defender Timmy Chandler did not participate in training with his U.S. teammates Thursday because of a leg injury the team said it considers minor.

U.S. team spokesman Michael Kammarman said Chandler worked out on his own and is expected to rejoin teammates Friday, when the Americans go through their last practice at Sao Paulo Futebol Clube before traveling north to Natal for their World Cup opener against Ghana next week.

Chandler has been competing with DaMarcus Beasley to start at left back.

The Americans open Monday, then play Portugal and Germany in their other first-round games..



Australia looks to Cahill
for goals in World Cup

CUIABA, Brazil (AP) — With his trademark shadow-boxing routine at the corner flag, Australia forward Tim Cahill may provide one of the iconic goal celebrations at this World Cup.

And if anyone is going to score in Brazil for the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, it’s most likely going to be Cahill.

But therein lies the problem for the Socceroos, who are heading into a third straight World Cup with their chances having been written off before a ball has been kicked.

A reliance for goals on a 34-year-old in the twilight of a career spent mostly playing as a midfielder exposes the dearth of forward options for coach Ange Postecoglou in Brazil.