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Radamel Falcao recovering quickly, hopes to be fit for World Cup

Portugal Colombia Soccer Falcao

Colombian soccer star Radamel Falcao reacts as he attends a press conference at the Trindade Hospital in Porto, Portugal, Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. Colombia and Monaco’s striker Falcao is in a race against time to get fit for the World Cup in June after undergoing knee surgery Saturday, Jan. 25, with his doctor giving him a better than 50-50 chance of making it. (AP Photo/Paulo Duarte)

AP

When Monaco’s Radamel Falcao went down against French side Monts d’Or Azergues Foot on January 22nd popular conjecture was that the Colombian striker would not be playing in the 2014 World Cup.

Falcao and his doctors, however, did not subscribe to that notion, insisting full recovery was possible albeit a long shot.

On Sunday, following his club side’s 3-1 victory over Ligue 1 side Nantes, Falcao injected greater hope to the possibility of his playing in Brazil.

“I’m recovering quickly. Physiotherapy is going very well,” Falcao said. “I’m going to return to Spain to continue my recovery. The knee has responded very well, which allowed me to gain momentum in the work.

“I’m happy because the evolution is very positive. I’m a little ahead of what was expected, but we know very well that it’s day to day that we’ll see the evolution. I have the desire and motivation to return.”

Although the 28-year-old did concede that it’s still too soon to be certain if he will be read for Brazil, his progress is undoubtedly a strong sign. Colombia’s first match in Group C is against Greece on June 14th before meeting Cote d’Ivoire on the 19th and Japan on the 24th.

If Los Cafeteros win their group they’ll face 2nd place in Group D (Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy) on June 28th and if they finish second in the group they’ll face 1st place in Group D on June 29th.

Follow @mprindi