In mid-June, Colombia’s star midfielder, Yoreli Rincon, fractured her left foot’s little toe while training with her club team, Brazil’s XV de Piracicaba. Initial reports are that the injury is relatively minor and Rincon should be fully healed in time for the start of the Olympic women’s soccer tournament, which kicks off on July 25th.
The initial injury occurred sometime during the week of June 11th, when one of Rincon’s club teammates stepped on her left foot. This injury was aggravated in another practice on Sunday, June 17th. Following that, Rincon’s left foot was X-rayed, and a crack in the distal phalanx of the little toe was discovered.
The immediate treatment of the fracture was just to bandage the toe (possibly via a buddy splint). No cast was required. Following that, Rincon was not suppose to exercise for two weeks. Full recovery should be in about four weeks, and since the injury occurred five weeks out from the Olympics, Rincon should be fully cleared to play with at least a few days to spare.
On Monday, July 9th, Colombia played an international friendly against fellow Olympics-bound squad, Canada. According to ColFutbol.org’s write-up for the match (in Spanish), Rincon was not in the starting line-up nor used as a substitute. It is unclear whether this was done just as a precautionary measure or because Rincon has yet to fully heal.
Colombia has three more tune-up friendlies where Rincon could see action: Cameroon on July 11th, Brazil on July 14th, and New Zealand on July 17th.
Colombia is in the Uniteds States’ group, Group G, along with North Korea and France.
Source For Injury Details: Vanguardia.com article dated June 20th (in Spanish).
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In other injury news, the reason for defender Fatima Montano’s exclusion from the Olympic roster was due to a torn ACL in her right knee during the team’s final domestic training camp. The 27 year-old Montano started two of Colombia’s three matches during last year’s Women’s World Cup (FIFA.com).
Also, as of June 25th, Daniela Montoya and Natalia Ariza had minor unspecified strains.
Source: www.caracol.com.co (in Spanish).
Women's Soccer Express 