Injured Kaka doubtful for Brazil's qualifier

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Kaka missed training with Brazil to treat a left foot injury on Tuesday, and team doctors weren't sure he would be available for this weekend's World Cup qualifier against Ecuador.

Inter Milan's Adriano also missed practice because of a left ankle ailment, but doctors said he will be able to play on Sunday in Quito.

"Adriano could be practicing normally by Thursday," Brazil trainer Paulo Paixao said. "But Kaka will be far from his best condition if he plays on Sunday."

Team doctor Jose Luiz Runco said Kaka has a 50 percent chance of playing, and that his condition will depend on how the AC Milan midfielder responds to treatment.

Coach Dunga said he hopes to have Kaka available, but that he would not have a hard time finding a replacement in case he doesn't recover.

"Kaka is an important player, of course," Dunga said. "But we will have to wait and see how he improves from the injury. If he can't play we'll just choose another player from the roster."

After playing Ecuador, Brazil will host Peru three days later in the southern city of Porto Alegre.

"We know they'll be tough matches," striker Alexandre Pato said. "But Brazil should be playing well and there's no reason why we can't achieve good results."

The five-time world champions are second in South American qualifying, six points behind leader Paraguay and one point ahead of both Argentina and Chile.

The top four finishers in the 10-nation qualifying group will automatically secure a spot for next year's World Cup in South Africa. The fifth-place nation will face a one-match playoff against the fourth-place finisher in the CONCACAF qualifying group.

"We will go for the win every time, but if at the end we can't get it, we have to be satisfied with the draw," Dunga said. "It's still early, so we need to add as many points as possible."

Brazil was coming off a 2-0 win over Italy in a friendly in London in February in the team's only match this year.

Brazil will practice at the Granja Comary training center outside Rio de Janeiro until Friday, when it travels to Ecuador.

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