Tanaka Breaks Drogba's World Cup

Didier Drogba told teammate Kolo Toure that he will miss the World Cup after breaking his right arm Friday in a warmup match.

"For him, he said, the World Cup is finished," Toure said.

The 32-year-old Drogba was taken off 15 minutes into Ivory Coast's 2-0 win over Japan after a high challenge by Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka. He was then rushed to a hospital.

"We can just see on his face that he was sad, and when he is like that you can't ask more," Toure said. "It is difficult for us because he is such a really important player."

Team spokesman Eric Kacou told The Associated Press that "it is a fracture in his right arm," but coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said the team hadn't officially ruled out its captain.

"We are not sure yet," Eriksson said, saying Drogba's participation was "still a possibility."

Toure said Ivory Coast's players were hoping for a surprising recovery, and said the team would know more later Friday.

Drogba scored 29 goals in 32 Premier League matches this season, helping Chelsea win the title.

Friday's friendly was the final warmup for Ivory Coast and Japan before they travel to South Africa. The Ivorians open the World Cup on June 15 against Portugal in Port Elizabeth, while Japan begins a day earlier against Cameroon in Bloemfontein.

Drogba appeared to be holding his right side after Tulio's challenge. After returning from the hospital, the striker entered the team bus without speaking to reporters.

Eriksson said the injury was unlucky, and didn't blame Tulio.

"It wasn't bad or stupid. He didn't want to hurt anyone," the Swedish coach said. "Football is a game of contact."

Watch the video

Japan first to qualify for World Cup 2010

Japan has become the first country to qualify for football's 2010 World Cup, clinching its place with a 1-0 win away at Uzbekistan on Saturday.

A goal in the ninth minute by Shinji Okazaki proved enough for Japan to secure a fourth straight World Cup berth, qualifying with two games to spare.

Hosts South Africa are automatically in the event, while Australia can qualify with a win or draw away at Qatar later Saturday.

Uzbekistan must win its final qualifier and rely on Bahrain losing its two remaining matches if it is to have a chance of progressing.

Australia can join its Asia Group 1 rival in the 32-team finals with at least a draw in its match against Qatar later.

Coach Takeshi Okada, who guided Japan to its first World Cup in 1998, repeated the feat. Shinji Okazaki scored the game’s only goal after nine minutes.

That lifted Japan atop the group with 14 points to Australia’s 13, with Bahrain and Qatar next on seven.

In today’s Group 2 matches, Iran held North Korea to a goalless draw in Pyongyang. The point lifts North Korea to 11 points, level with leader South Korea and a point ahead of Saudi Arabia. Iran has seven points.

The two third-place finishers enter a playoff series, with the winner facing Oceania’s top team in another playoff for a World Cup spot. South Africa has an automatic berth as host.