Bad news for Costa Rica -- and Real Salt Lake -- on Thursday, as forward Alvaro Saborio suffered a foot injury during a closed-door training session.
The Costa Rican Football Federation confirmed during a press conference on Thursday that Saborio "broke his fifth metatarsal bone" in his left foot, according to team doctor Alejandro Ramirez. A report from Teletica.com said he will be out of action for three months. As a result of the injury, Saborio will not participate in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which would have been the second of the RSL striker's career.
"After analyzing the doctors' opinion and talking with the player, we have to face the reality," said Costa Rica head coach Jorge Luis Pinto during the press conference. "Álvaro will not play at the World Cup. We hope he recovers on time to travel with us to Brazil. It really hurts, because he's an extraordinary man."
Saborio was expected to play a significant part in the Ticos plans in Brazil. In a tough Group D against Uruguay, Italy and England, Costa Rica have a tough road to climb to make it to the knockout stages, and with his absence, it may be more difficult yet.
