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Raul's World Cup chances to be decided in next few weeks
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-13 09:15
MADRID, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Real Madrid and Spain captain Raul says his
progress in the next few weeks will decide whether or not he will be able to
recover from a serious knee injury in time to play in next year's World Cup.
The 28-year-old striker partially tore the cruciate ligament and damaged the
cartilage in his left knee when he miscued a shot during his side's 3-0 defeat
by arch-rivals Barcelona last month.
Club doctors opted to follow a "conservative" programme of treatment to deal
with the injury in the hope that he could avoid surgery and be able to play
again before the end of the season.
"My hope is that they won't have to operate and that the recovery time will
be reduced," Raul told reporters on Monday when he arrived at a get-together for
the players who are in the running for a place in the Spain squad in Germany.
"I suffered the injury three weeks ago on Saturday and all is going well at
the moment, but the next few weeks will be decisive. When I come off the
crutches we'll have to see how the knee responds."
Spain have been drawn alongside Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia in Group H
for the World Cup.
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