Colombian full-back Fabra out of World Cup with knee injury

The Boca Juniors left-back uffered a "ruptured anterior cruciate ligament" in his left knee during a training session in Italy, the federation said in a statement.

"I fought, I worked hard and tried to get better... but now my heart is broken into a million little pieces," Fabra lamented in a message on his Instagram account.

According to medical experts, Fabra's recovery will take bertween four and six months.

Fabra will be replaced in Jose Pekerman's squad "in the coming hours" by one of Colombia's reserve players -- most likely to be left-sided defender Farid Diaz, who plays for Olimpia in Paraguay.

Colombia will start their Group H campaign against Japan on June 19 in Saransk before then facing Poland and Senegal.