Czech Republic striker Milan Baros may miss the World Cup finals because of a foot injury.
The 24-year-old suffered the injury in last week’s World Cup warm-up against Trinidad and Tobago, but despite taking painkilling injections he has been unable to train with the rest of the team.
“The treatment has not been going in the way we had planned,” said team spokesman Lukas Fousek.
Baros had been hopeful of facing Ghana in Cologne on Saturday, but that now looks unlikely.
He added: “It was OK for a while, but then I had to stop. When I make a faster movement, it hurts.
“I hoped it would get better, but it returned again. I have to keep waiting.”
The Czech Republic, who were 3-0 winners in their opening Group E game against the United States, have something of an injury crisis up front.
Striker Jan Koller was forced off early against the USA with a thigh injury and he is not expected to play again until the knockout stages.
