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PORTO, Portugal -- Colombia striker Radamel Falcao is in a race against time to get fit for the World Cup in June after undergoing knee surgery Saturday, with his doctor giving him a better than 50-50 chance of making it. Falcao, known as El Tigre, is Colombias star player, and the hopes the country places on him merited a bedside visit from Colombias president after Falcao awoke from his anesthetic. Juan Manuel Santoss presidential plane made a detour on his way home from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to check on Falcao at Trindade hospital in downtown Porto, northern Portugal. "Hes in good spirits, hes very optimistic," Santos told reporters outside the hospital. Santos said Colombia, which will face Ivory Coast, Greece and Japan in Group C at the tournament in Brazil, has a strong group of players "but Falcao has become a symbol of the national team." The Portuguese doctor who performed the surgery said it went according to plan. Dr Jose Carlos Noronha said a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which Falcao contracted in his left knee, can often take more than six months to heal. However, he wouldnt rule out the possibility of the player recovering in time for Colombias World Cup opener against Greece on June 14. "It went well," Noronha said of the surgery to graft a tendon onto Falcaos knee. "The light at the end of the tunnel isnt small." Every patient recovers at a different pace, he said. "Theres a possibility of him going to the tournament," Noronha said. "Its not out of the question." The 27-year-old Falcao injured his knee playing for Monaco in the French Cup on Wednesday. Inflammation from the original injury had gone down relatively quickly, Noronha said, allowing surgery to go ahead three days later. However, Noronha warned that Falcao "cant rush his recovery." Falcao is set to be released from the hospital on Monday. Noronha said he expected Falcao to continue his recovery in Monaco. 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Marie, Mich., last year along with the teams chief scout to watch one of the teams prospects when a little water bug named Alex DeBrincat stole his attention.We watched the game trying to concentrate on our prospect and Alexs team won 8-2 and he had three goals and two assists, Bassin said. He was outstanding. He sees the ice and he doesnt know that hes five-foot-seven. He could have had another five points in the game.DeBrincat, now a 16 year-old rookie with the Otters, leads all Ontario Hockey League freshman in scoring with 43 points (24 goals, 19 assists) in 30 games. He is plus-31 and ranks eighth among the leagues top scorers. The next highest rookie scorer is Petrus Palmu of the Owen Sound Attack who ranks 75th with 10 goals and 20 points in 28 games.As Bassin pointed out, DeBrincat is tiny by most hockey standards at 5-7 and 160 pounds. The Farmington Hills, Mich., native played last season for Lake Forest Acadamy, a prep school in Chicago, scoring 54 goals and 111 points in 50 gamesHe had committed to the University of Massachusetts for a full-ride scholarship. After being approached by the Otters, DeBrincat changed his mind and opted to go the junior hockey route.DeBrincat admitted he was disappointed he had not been drafted into the OHL, but was thrilled that a team suddenly had interest in him.I thought about it for a while and decided it was the best opportunity for me, DeBrincat said. Growing up I was pushed toward college hockey and I really liked UMass so I decided to commit there. Honestly I didnt know how serious Erie was so I put it on the backburner, but when I realized they really wanted me it was really exciting.If the rest of the OHL had no interest in DeBrincat because of his size, Bassin was only too happy to sign the free agent.We thought he was going to be a really good player, but let me tell you, this guy can skate, he can shoot, Bassin said. There are guys who are six-foot-three and six-foot-four and he goes after them like hes six-foot-three or six-foot-four. He plays liike hes 200 pounds.ddddddddddddeBrincat is blessed to be playing on a team that also has rising stars Connor McDavid and Dylan Strome. Although McDavid is injured now, when he is healthy he and Strome command a lot of attention from the opposition. That leaves open ice for DeBrincat.DeBrincat said his goal is to play in the NHL and he believes the OHL is the best route for that to happen.The OHL sends more top guys to the NHL, DeBrincat said.The NHL used to be a big mans league, but when obstruction started to be called with more frequency following the 2004-05 lockout, the opportunity for smaller players increased.Martin St. Louis, the poster child for small players at five-foot-eight and 180 pounds, has won two NHL scoring titles and was the NHLs most valuable player in 2004. DeBrincat said St. Louis is a role model for him.You look at the career Marty St. Louis has had and you know height isnt everything, DeBrincat said. You can still make it being that small.Other significant smallish NHLers include Buffalos Nathan Gerbe (5-5, 173 pounds) and Brian Gionta (5-7, 174 pounds) and his brother, Stephen Gionta (5-7, 185 pounds) of the New Jersey Devils.Calgary Flames rookie Johnny Gaudreau is 5-8 and 150 pounds and won the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in the NCAA last year.DeBrincat said he has been teased by opponents because of his size, but he doesnt let it get to him.I hear things like, Youre two-feet tall a lot, DeBrincat said. I just dont let it get to me. I cant let myself get pushed around so I stick up for myself. I dont let the size factor get to me when I am playing.DeBrincat knows he is a work in progress, but hopes NHL scouts can look past his stature.I feel like I have great vision and I can score if the opportunity is given to me, DeBrincat said. I think I need to work on my passing. I have been told I am fast, but Im not too sure about that one.Bassin only has one worry about DeBrincat.With McDavid out we have been kind of overplaying him because hes such a key guy, Bassin said. Who would have ever expected a rookie would come in and make the kind of impact he is making? ' ' '