France's Selma Bacha on crutches after Women's World Cup warm-up injury
France's preparations for the Women's World Cup received another injury blow Friday when defender Selma Bacha left the field in tears on a stretcher in the final minutes of the team's warm-up game against Australia — the last preparation match for Les Bleues before the start of the World Cup.
After running tests on Bacha, it has been revealed that she has a sprained ankle and is on crutches.
X-rays didn't reveal a fracture Friday evening in Melbourne, but an MRI on Saturday morning revealed that Bacha did indeed suffer from a sprain, the severity of which is not yet fully known, per multiple reports.
Bacha, 22, will remain with the team, although she'll likely miss the first group game against Jamaica (July 23 at 6 a.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). There's no timetable for her return.
Bacha fell awkwardly on her left ankle after making a covering interception and had her head in her hands as she was carried off in the 1-0 win for Australia before a sellout crowd of 50,629.
Forwards Delphine Cascarino and Marie-Antoinette Katoto were recently ruled out of the World Cup because of injuries.
Substitute forward Mary Fowler scored in the 66th minute to give Australia the win, taking a pass on the right wing from Hayley Raso and converting her shot.
France is ranked fifth behind the leading United States, Germany, Sweden and England. Australia is 10th-ranked going into the World Cup.
Australia plays its opening Group B match on July 20 in Sydney against Ireland. France takes on Jamaica in its first Group F game on July 23, also in Sydney.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
