Knee injury rules Edmilson out of World Cup

Brazil's midfielder Edmilson controls the ball in Basel during a friendly football game against FC Luzern Selection. Edmilson has been ruled out of the World Cup with a ruptured left kneecap, team doctor for the defending world champions Jose Luis Runco confirmed.

Brazilian international defensive midfielder Edmilson has been ruled out of the World Cup with a ruptured left kneecap, team doctor for the defending world champions Jose Luis Runco confirmed.

The 29-year-old Barcelona player, a member of the 2002 World Cup-winning side, believes he picked up the injury during his Spanish side's 2-1 Champions League win over Arsenal earlier this month.

"We did a scan today which confirmed that Edmilson is suffering from a broken left knee," said Runco.

"It's an injury which means the player cannot compete in the World Cup and for this reason he has been excluded.

"Edmilson said that he believes that the problem could have occured during the Champions League final," he added.

Edmilson aggravated the injury playing for Brazil during Tuesday's warm up friendly here ahead of the World Cup in which they comfortably thrashed Swiss second division team Lucerne 8-0.

Americo Faria, supervisor of Brazil's World Cup delegation, said that Sao Paulo player Mineiro will be called up as his replacement.

Runco added: "After the match Edmilson spoke to me and told me that he had felt a pain in his knee as soon as he came onto the pitch, and it then started to bother him. The scan confirmed my diagnosis."

He added that the problem had nothing to do with the ruptured right knee ligaments which sidelined the player for six months during the 2004-2005 season.