Euro 2020: Russian National Team Player Mario Fernandez Taken To Hospital, But Escaped Spinal Injury After Falling

Russian national team defender Mario Fernandez was hospitalized on Wednesday after suffering a back injury during the Euro 2020 match against Finland, but escaped spinal injury, according to his team. The 30-year-old striker went up for a high ball in the Finland penalty area in the first half and went down awkwardly, with the back of his neck taking the full force of the touchdown. The Brazilian-born CSKA Moscow player was carried off the field on a stretcher with a bandage around his head and neck. He was replaced by Vyacheslav Karavaev.

His team said on Twitter that Fernandes has been taken to a hospital in Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second city where the match was taking place.

“According to the results of the exam, Mario did not suffer a spinal injury,” the team said later on Wednesday, adding that Fernandes is flying back with his teammates to Moscow.

Fernandes’s injury is another blow to the team who have already lost veteran Yuri Zhirkov, who was injured during the 3-0 loss against Belgium on Saturday.

Another defender, Fyodor Kudryashov is yet to recover from an injury that he suffered during a pre-tournament friendly.

Winger Andrei Mostovoy was replaced in the squad last week after testing positive for coronavirus.

Russia claimed a 1-0 win over Finland in the Group B match between the two neighbours.

Their next match against Denmark will take place on Monday in Copenhagen.