JOHANNESBURG – Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar began practising normally again yesterday, indicating he was over a back injury and ready for the World Cup.
Julio Cesar had not trained at full strength since getting hurt in a warm-up game against Zimbabwe on June 2, when he fell awkwardly while trying to reach for a ball and was substituted midway through the first half.
The goalkeeper had been limited in practice since. Yesterday he participated in all the drills without any apparent problems. He made several tough saves and looked in top form.
A team doctor said Cesar would be fit for Brazil’s opener against North Korea on June 15.
“He practised normally with the rest of the players, everything was normal,” Brazil reserve right back Daniel Alves said. “I don’t think there will be any problems for him to be playing in the opener.”
Although doctors had been downplaying the lower back injury, it kept Julio Cesar from travelling to the team’s warm-up against Tanzania on Monday, and he had been undergoing intensive physiotherapy treatment after missing practice for two straight days.
Brazil’s morning practice was entirely closed to the Press, but a few images made by local media showed Julio Cesar at times putting his hands in his lower back in apparent pain.
“Julio Cesar is one of the best in the world, but we don’t have to be worried because we have two other great goalkeepers in our group,” Alves said. “Both Gomes and Doni are excellent professionals and can replace Julio at the same level if needed.” (AP)
