Modric injured in loss against Brazil, expected to play vs. Cameroon

Playmaker Luka Modric suffered a foot injury in Croatia's World Cup opening loss to Brazil, but he's expected to be available for Croatia's next tournament match against Cameroon.

Croatia team officials on Friday said Modric was taken to a hospital in Salvador, near the squad's training base, to check the extent of his injury. An official team release later revealed an MRI showed no fracture or ligament damage.

Modric's absence for the June 18 match against Cameroon would be a major blow for Croatia, which lost 3-1 to Brazil on Thursday and is bottom of Group A together with Cameroon, which lost 1-0 to Mexico on Friday.

The skillful Real Madrid midfielder is the backbone of the powerful Croatian midfield.

''God forbid that the injury is serious,'' Croatia coach Niko Kovac said.