Edinson Cavani injury last: Uruguayan striker loses fitness race before quarter-finals of World Cup vs France

Edinson Cavani loses his fight for the World Cup quarter-final against France on Friday, as he struggles to recover from a calf injury

L & # 39; Uruguay has not lost hope. The team beat Portugal 2-1 in the last 16, will be able to take its place on the bench but it seems highly unlikely that it will be included in the start 11.

The South Americans hope that if they beat France in Nizhny Novgorod, Cavani will be in shape for the semi-final against Brazil or Belgium in St. Petersburg on Tuesday. Against France, Cristhian Stuani or Maxi Gomez are likely to play alongside Luis Suarez in attack

The defeat of Cavani, who has three goals in the tournament, is a blow to Uruguay, especially against a French team that conceded three goals. The back of France Adil Rami believes that the absence of Cavani gives his team a significant advantage – and he is very skeptical Cavani will play a role in the showdown tomorrow.

He said: "We are talking about Edinson Cavani, one of the best strikers in the world, and he was in good shape during this tournament, so I think this is n & rsquo; It's not bad for us that he is injured.

"I had the same kind of injury and took the time. I tried to challenge medical science and it was not easy. So if he plays against us, he will have destroyed science, so stop making us believe that he will play against us. "

Suarez and Cavani have shared five goals in the tournament so far and are one of the best in international football.To attack partnerships.The two have won more than 100 selections and have been inspiring against Portugal, Suarez insists, however, that Uruguay can still prosper in Russia without its main hand.

The former Liverpool star said: "The two goals that he Marked the other day, the team work that he has, all this is important. But there are players who can do it the same way and we hope even better than him.

"Things do not depend on a single player.Uruguay has shown that we depend on collective work on the field."

Argentine referee Nestor Pitana will take the lead match, which could crack Uruguay.The countries share a border and have been ferocious rivals since Uruguay Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup final, in 1930. [19659176] Target: Cavani scored two goals as Uruguay beat Portugal in the round of 16 (REUTERS)

Pitana refereed the match between Croatia and Denmark in the round of 16. Croatia won on penalties after a 1-1 draw. He was also in the middle for the group matches between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and Sweden and Mexico.