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Danilo Pereira (centre) trained with Portugal on Saturday before picking up the injury| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings - Full coverage details |
Portugal manager Fernando Santos said the team "do not understand how" midfielder Danilo Pereira fractured his ribs in training this week.
The Paris St-Germain star, 31, is expected to sit out the rest of the group stage at the World Cup, including Monday's match against Uruguay.
Pereira was in the starting line-up for the 3-2 win against Ghana on Thursday.
"It is a type of injury that no one can explain. We don't understand how that could have happened," said Santos.
"It's normal these injuries happen but we didn't see how it happened exactly. Initially we did not think it was a very serious one.
"We had a few exams to see if he was breathing properly and apparently that was the case, but afterwards we saw it was more serious. We are following it up.
"I am not a doctor so can't talk about it in detail but as far as I know he is evolving positively. We are expecting to have him [back] soon but if not we have three other midfielders who can replace him.
"We do not need to have any drama or cry over it. We are very sad for him. We have to think of him as a human being beyond being a player.
"He is someone with very positive energy and I'm sure he will be sending good vibes our way."
TEAM NEWS
Portugal have no other fresh injury concerns besides Pereira.
Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo, who underwent thigh surgery at the end of September, is still not expected to feature on Monday.
MATCH FACTS
- Portugal have won just one of their last nine meetings with South American nations in all competitions (D3 L5), beating Argentina 1-0 in a friendly in November 2014.
- Uruguay have failed to score in their last two World Cup games - only once have they done so in three consecutive games at the tournament (between 1986 and 1990).
- Uruguay have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five group stage games at the World Cup - no side has ever done so in six consecutive group games in the competition's history.
- Portugal have lost just one of their last 13 group stage games at the World Cup (W7 D5).
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