Football

Injury sidelines Spanish midfielder Iniesta

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Influential Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta had to sit out yesterday’s crucial World Cup clash against Honduras because of a thigh injury, coach Vicente del Bosque said on Sunday.

“Everyone is ready to play except Iniesta. He suffered an injury to his thigh, it’s an injury which has nothing to do with his previous problems. It happened in the first match against Switzerland,” said Del Bosque.

Iniesta was substituted in the 77th minute of the match against the Swiss, which the European champions surprisingly lost 1-0.

The Barcelona star suffered a leg muscle injury in his country’s final warm-up game, a 6-0 rout of Poland, and was a serious doubt for the Group H opener against Switzerland. AFP