Linda Caicedo fitness concern: will Colombia star play against Morocco at the Women’s World Cup 2023?
The Real Madrid striker has lit up the tournament with two goals in two games but concerns about her health persist.
The Colombian national team trained at Dorrien Gardens in Perth, Australia on the eve of their final Women’s World Cup Group H clash against Morocco, with Linda Caicedo’s absence from the start of the session the main point of note.
Colombia star ungoes MRI scans on chest
The rest of the roster arrived at the complex in the morning but the Real Madrid striker was instead with team doctors. Caicedo, who overcame ovarian cancer a few years ago, underwent a second MRI scan following her stumble to the ground while clutching her chest during a session in the build-up to Las Cafeteras’ second group game against Germany. The Colombian soccer federation put the incident down to “stress” and “physical demands”.
🗣️ Ancelotti: "Linda Caicedo? She’s doing very well. We're watching the Women's World Cup. She's a great player. We have a great relationship with the women's team and I hope in the future they win as much as the men's team." pic.twitter.com/RxL5Xsd4kV
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 1, 2023
“Exhausted” Caicedo involved in second worrying incident against Germany
Following assurances that the 18-year-old was OK to play, she started and scored a superb goal in Colombia’s surprise win over the Germans but again lay down on the ground and required medical attention in the closing stages of the game. This time, it was a member of the coaching staff who explained there was nothing to worry about.
“We know that Linda had some problems in the past, but nothing to be worried about,” assistant coach Angelo Marsiglia said. “She was very tired, of course. She had a bit of acceleration in her heart, but this wasn’t a problem.” Marsiglia later claimed the teenager was “exhausted”.
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Since then, the federation have again stressed that nothing is wrong with their star player, who did her first scan the day before the team travelled to Perth and that the results showed there was no cause for concern.
Linda Caicedo's life:
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) July 30, 2023
At 14: Played first-team football
At 15: Beat cancer
At 17: Best player, Copa America
At 18:
Joined Real Madrid
Played her first World Cup
Scored at the World Cup
A star in the making ⭐️ #GERCOL pic.twitter.com/h6k3l3FlP6
What do Colombia need to qualify for the Women’s World Cup 2023 round of 16?
Only a four-goal defeat to Morocco (kick-off at 6:00 a.m. ET on Thursday 3 August) would see Colombia fail to qualify for the knockout stages after victories in their two opening matches, in which Caicedo scored twice.