Portugal's Nani out of World Cup

| Wednesday June 9, 2010 00:00

Manchester United's Nani picked up the injury in training on Friday in Lisbon before flying to South Africa.'After tests we conclude he is unfit to participate in the World Cup,' said a team statement.

The 23-year-old, who scored three goals in 11 appearances during qualification, will be replaced in Portugal's squad by Benfica midfielder Ruben Amorim.

Amorim made 24 appearances for Benfica last season, helping the club to their first Portuguese title in five years.The loss of Nani is a blow to Portugal as the winger had demonstrated impressive form for Manchester United during the second half of the 2009/10 season. During the campaign, he scored six goals in 34 appearances as United finished runners-up to Chelsea in the Premier League and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they were beaten on away goals by Bayern Munich.

He scored a superb chipped goal in Portugal's 3-1 victory over Cameroon in a home World Cup warm-up game on 1 June.

Portugal also have injury concerns over defender Pepe, who has been recovering from a knee injury he sustained in December.

The Real Madrid centre-back has not played since then but has been cleared by doctors from both his club and country to travel to the finals with a view to featuring at some stage.Portugal's first match of the tournament is on 15 June against Ivory Coast in Group G, which also includes Brazil and North Korea. (BBC)