Calderon out of basketball worlds for muscle injury

MADRID, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Spanish point guard Manuel Calderon has been forced to drop out of the national squad for the World Basketball Championships in Turkey after suffering a muscle injury.

Calderon suffered a torn muscle in his left thigh in the third quarter of Spain's narrow 86-85 defeat to the United States in their final warmup in Madrid on Sunday night.

Tests carried out this Monday morning confirmed he will be out of action for around a month, causing Spain coach Sergio Scariolo to call on Lopez.

He will be replaced in the Spain squad by Raul Lopez, who currently plays his basketball for Russian club side Khimki.

"At the moment the only feeling that I have is one of anger," assured Scariolo after losing one of his key players.

Calderon tried to maintain his spirit up.

"I hope the rest of the team does as well as possible in the World Cup and they know that here they have another supporter. I am sure they will do really well," said the Spaniard who plays for the Toronto Raptors.

Spain travel to Turkey as defending World Champions and begin their title defense against France next Saturday.