BRA - Brazil nearing full strength

LOGRONO (FIBA World Championship) - Brazil expect to be at full strength for Friday's game against France after getting good injury news on Anderson Varejao, Tiago Splitter and Nene.

Varejao sprained his ankle during Tuesday's defeat to Spain in a FIBA World Championship warm-up in Logrono but tests completed on Wednesday found no serious damage and he has been cleared to play.

"The result of the scan found no ligament damage or fractures," team doctor Carlos Andreoli said.

"It was a grade one sprain.

Anderson will have physiotherapy and should be able to return in two to four days."

And that treatment has already begun, as team physio Tadiello Felipe explained.

"In the first 24 hours we focus on reducing the pain and swelling," he said.

"Then over the next two days we'll work on strength and balance so he can return to the court."

Varejao admitted he thought his World Championship might have been over when he was first injured.

"It was a hard blow when the Spaniard (Fran Vazquez) landed on my foot and I heard a loud pop, it was strange and it started hurting a lot," he said.

"The doctors had to help me leave the court.

I was in a great deal of pain and feared what the tests might find.

"Today I feel soreness in the ankle but I'm relieved it's nothing serious because an injury at this time could have ruled me out of the World Championship and I can't imagine that."

Splitter and Nene both missed the game against Spain, but have now returned to practice.

Brazil played two games in Logrono, also suffering defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Argentina, but Marquinhos was still pleased by the work done.

"The games here at the tournament in Logrono was very beneficial," Magnano said.

"We trained hard and played two tough games.

We have made the most of them and know what we need to do to evolve further and correct the mistakes ahead of the World Championship."

The team is travelling to Lyon on Thursday, and will face France on Friday night before taking part in a a tournament early next week involving Australia, Cote d'Ivoire and France.

"In France, I expect us to perform well, especially with the return of Splitter and Nene. We have everything we need to improve."

FIBA

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