Portugal have been handed a further blow after it was confirmed Zenit St. Petersburg captain Danny would be sidelined for eight to nine months with a serious knee injury.
Danny, 32, picked up the injury in Zenit’s 5-2 win over Spartak Moscow last weekend and the club have subsequently confirmed he has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will be sidelined for nearly a year.
It means the 32-year-old has suffered major tournament heartbreak for the second time in quick succession after missing the chance to represent Portugal at Euro 2012 with a similar knee injury.
Portugal will also be without left-back Fabio Coentrao, who was ruled out of the tournament in France last week with a thigh injury that requires surgery.
Danny has played a direct hand in 10 league goals from 23 appearances (six goals, four assists) for Zenit this season and has been capped 37 times since making his debut for Portugal in August 2008.
For more stats on Danny, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
