Ivory Coast's African Player of the Year Yaya Toure is doubtful for their opening World Cup group game with Japan on Saturday, coach Sabri Lamouchi told the Ivorian press on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Manchester City star - whose performances and 20 goals for his club last season were instrumental in bringing them the Premier League title - is still struggling with a hamstring injury he suffered in the title deciding win over West Ham on the last day of the league season.
"He finished the season injured and worn out," said Lamouchi.
"He has not yet resumed team training and has to undergo a rehabilitation programme.
"We are going to do everything in our power so that he will be able to start or at least come on during the game with Japan."
Oxlade-Chamberlain in line for Uruguay return
England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return from injury in time for his side's second World Cup game against Uruguay, manager Roy Hodgson revealed on Tuesday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 20, damaged ligaments in his right knee during a friendly against Ecuador last week, but he trained wearing a protective brace on Monday.
Although he is expected to miss England's opening Group D match against Italy in Manaus on Saturday, Hodgson is hopeful that the Arsenal man will be available to face Uruguay in Sao Paulo on June 19.
England's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rests his injured leg during a soccer training session in Rio de Janeiro June 9, 2014. (REUTERS)
"Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did very well," Hodgson told a press conference at England's Urca training base in Rio de Janeiro.
"You may have seen the running he was doing - very positive. He was running so well and so fast and we will be stepping up his recovery in due course.
"We are hoping (he will be back) for Uruguay, but there's no guarantee."
Hodgson also allayed fears about the fitness of captain Steven Gerrard, who cut short his training session on Monday after complaining of tightness in his groin.
"We did a training session where the players who didn't play on Saturday (against Honduras) trained, and some of the others did a warm-down session," Hodgson said.
"Steven did some extra work at the end of that training session. There's nothing wrong with him and I don't understand that story at all."
Neymar gives Brazil momentary scare
Brazil briefly held its breath when Neymar went down clutching his right ankle in training on Monday, but the incident turned out to be nothing more than a momentary scare.
The fact that the 22-year-old forward went down when none of his national team colleagues were near him suggested a potential problem, just three days ahead of Brazil's opening World Cup game against Croatia in Sao Paulo.
However, the striker quickly got back up and finished the training game at the Selecao's Granja Comary base in Teresopolis.
A sprain to Neymar's right ankle earlier this year sidelined him from Barcelona's ranks for just under four weeks.
STAR DUO
Portugal coach Paulo Bento is weighing up whether to gamble on both Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe in Tuesday's friendly with the Republic of Ireland, as the star duo race to be fit for the World Cup.
The Brazilian showpiece begins on Thursday and the Portuguese face the strongly fancied Germany on June 16 in the so-called 'Group of Death', which also includes Ghana and the USA.
But neither of the Real Madrid aces have been able to play a full part in Portugal's preparations and have missed the last two warm-up games, a barely deserved 1-0 win over Mexico and a dull 0-0 draw with Greece.
Bento would have hoped that the game against the Irish in New Jersey, in the United States, would be a final chance to fine-tune his squad with the Germany clash less than a week away.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during training June 9, 2014 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (AFP)
But instead it has taken on extra significance and all eyes will be on how long - if at all - Bento gives Ronaldo, Pepe and Raul Meireles, another key player whose preparations have been disrupted by injury.
"Two of them trained on Saturday and Sunday and Pepe will train today," Bento revealed on Monday.
"Their situation will depend on how they respond to training and we'll see what our decision will be for tomorrow's match.
"It's always difficult to train without the full squad and it's always difficult to prepare for a big match like the German one without all the players fit."
Gerrard struggles in England training
England captain Steven Gerrard managed only light training on Monday ahead of the World Cup as he struggled with what was termed as a minor groin strain.
Gerrard, 34, did only a few runs down the touchline as the main squad was put through a punishing schedule at the Urca military base in Rio de Janeiro.
The Liverpool midfielder went inside before the end of the session. England staff said it was a minor ailment and they had no doubt Gerrard would be ready for England's first Group D match against Italy on Saturday.
Gerrard missed half of England's 0-0 draw with Honduras on Saturday as a precaution.
England's Steven Gerrard during a soccer training session in Rio de Janeiro, June 9, 2014. (REUTERS)
England staff are gradually building up rehabilitation for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as he recovers from a knee ligament injury suffered against Ecuador last week.
The 20-year-old Arsenal star took part in intense sprint workouts with a brace on his knee.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is unlikely to take any part in the early Group D games against Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
Chile still sweating on Vidal fitness
Key midfielder Arturo Vidal remains an injury doubt for Chile ahead of their World Cup opener against Australia on June 13 in Cuiaba.
The Juventus dead-ball specialist again did not train with his team-mates at their base in Belo Horizonte on Monday.
Vidal, 28, has been struggling with inflammation in his knee since undergoing an operation on May 7 due to a meniscus problem.
Chile's midfielder Arturo Vidal sits during a training session at Toca da Raposa in Belo Horizonte, on June 9, 2014. (AFP)
He made a surprise comeback in last Wednesday's 2-0 friendly victory over Northern Ireland, playing 15 minutes, but has not since been able to train with his team-mates.
Tests carried out on Saturday revealed he had inflammation under his right kneecap.
Vidal trained apart with some light jogging during the 15 minutes Chile's training session was open to the media, before kicking a ball, but only with his left foot.