FIFA Updates

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP)—Internacional may be without three key starters in
the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final because of injuries.

Striker Alecsandro and midfielders Tinga and Pablo Guinazu missed practice
Monday and may not play at Beira-Rio stadium on Wednesday.

Internacional won the first leg 2-1 in Mexico and needs a draw to clinch its
second title in Latin America’s most important club competition.

Alecsandro and Tinga are nursing right thigh injuries, while Guinazu is
trying to recover from a left ankle injury.

“We can’t make any predictions,” Internacional doctor Guilherme Caputo
said, adding the players will have to keep being evaluated until matchday.

Tinga, who missed the first leg because of a red card in the semifinals,
injured his right thigh in the team’s 3-0 loss to Fluminense in the Brazilian
league on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. He was only one of the few regular starters
not rested for the second leg.

Alecsandro also is nursing a right thigh muscle injury from the first leg,
while Argentine midfielder Guinazu twisted his left ankle and hasn’t been able
to practice since last week.

Caputo said all three players have been improving and are likely to practice
at least a little bit on Tuesday.

Midfielder Sandro also missed Monday training session because of muscle pain
but doctors said he is expected to play.

Internacional is trying to win its first Copa Libertadores title since 2006,
when it also won FIFA’s Club World Championship in a final against Barcelona.

Chivas is trying to become the first Mexican club to win the title.