Spain started the Olympic Games on Thursday with a 0-0 draw against Egypt, but the result does not cause the most worries in the Spanish camp. Dani Ceballos dropped out during the game in the Sapporo Dome in the Japanese city of the same name with an apparently painful injury to the ankle, caused by Taher Mohamed. However, the Real Madrid midfielder hopes that his Olympics are not over yet despite a considerably swollen ankle.
With 43 minutes on the clock, Taher received the ball and Al-Ahly’s Egyptian forward turned his body to keep Ceballos off the ball. In doing so, however, Taher’s foot apparently unconsciously landed full on the Spanish midfielder’s ankle, causing him to collapse completely through the joint. Ceballos initially tried to play football, but in the end he had to be replaced by Jon Moncayola a few minutes later. Taher was shown a yellow card for the action, despite VAR still reviewing the footage.
Taher Mohamed ???? se tomo el #VamosConTokyo muuuuy and serio. RIP el tobillo de Dani Ceballos pic.twitter.com/jhpDKNEoor
— El Lineup de Guelon (@LineupDeGuelon) July 22, 2021
Ceballos immediately took off his sock and photos show that the ankle was already completely swollen when he stepped off the field. A photo that later surfaced via social media shows that a gigantic swelling has developed on the joint afterwards. “Does it hurt? Yes. But I have the hope and enthusiasm to help my teammates during these Olympics,” Ceballos, who has been loaned to Arsenal for the past two seasons by Real Madrid, wrote on Twitter.
What Dani Ceballos’ ankle looked like after the game.
According to the official reading of the Spanish Football Association, the next 48 hours should show how Ceballos’ ankle heals. National coach Luis de la Fuente already said that it ‘looks bad’ and it is impossible that he will be on the field again next Sunday against Australia. Making it to Argentina’s game on Wednesday is deemed ‘virtually impossible’, as Ceballos must rest for at least a week from such an ankle injury. Spain remained in the opening game against Egypt with Pedri, Eric García, Dani Olmo and Unaí Simon, among others, in a 0-0 draw. In the same group, Australia won 0-2 against Argentina.
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