Sorensen World Cup dream alive as surgery avoided

Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen learned Monday that the dislocated elbow he suffered in Sunday’s 7-0 thrashing at Chelsea will not require surgery, suggesting he should be able to go to the World Cup with Denmark.

Sorensen, who suffered the injury while trying to prevent Salomon Kalou from putting Chelsea 2-0 ahead, initially looked certain to miss the trip to South Africa.

But the 33-year-old’s elbow was put back into place without the need for an operation and Stoke boss Tony Pulis believes the goalkeeper will be ready to represent his country.

“If he had needed an operation, he’d have struggled to make the World Cup,” Pulis said. “But there is some encouraging news in that it was put back without the need for that.”

Denmark finished top of their World Cup qualifying group, ahead of Portugal and Sweden, with just one defeat in 10 matches.

They have been drawn in Group E alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Cameroon, with their opening game being against the Dutch on June 14.