USA's Jones confirms broken nose, expects to play vs. Belgium
SAO PAULO (AP) U.S. midfielder Jermaine Jones has a broken nose as he expected after Thursday's game against Germany, but he is scheduled to play in the round of 16 against Belgium on Tuesday in Salvador.
U.S. Soccer Federation spokesman Michael Kammarman said Jones and fellow midfielder Alejandro Bedoya each were checked on the field during the 1-0 loss at Recife following their second-half collision, and three more times since. Jones won't wear a protective mask and the fracture hasn't caused discoloration in the area.
Forward Jozy Altidore's status for the knockout stage remains unclear, though he's making positive progress since straining his left hamstring in the first half of the Americans' opening win against Ghana on June 16. He ran at a good pace around the field at Sao Paulo Futebol Clube and did some stretching.