The FIFA World Cup which holds every four
years is every player’s dream place to show
off their skills and above all help their
countries to the silverware.
Several of them have achieved this dream
and even go ahead to become legends of the
Beautiful Game. But injuries that are
associated with the game have a way of
stopping the dreams of many from
manifesting. The story is not going to be any
different this summer.
Already, several top stars have been
grounded, leaving them to playing
spectators’ role rather than been actors on
the bigger stage of the Mundial. Below is
some of those stars who will not be a apart of
the bigger party in the Samba country.
Just last weekend, Italy midfielder, Riccardo
Montolivo, suffered a broken leg following a
clash in his side's 0-0 friendly draw with
Republic of Ireland and could require
surgery, meaning he will not make the finals
in Brazil.
On the same day, Mexico's Luis Montes also
suffered a fractured leg shortly after scoring
for his side in a 3-1 win over Ecuador,
dealing a blow to Miguel Herrera's plans for
the tournament.
Croatia's Niko Kranjcar paid the price for his
exertions in QPR's Championship play-off
final victory over Derby as he picked up a
hamstring injury which will leave him on the
treatment table for much of the summer.
Netherlands have been hit the hardest of all
the teams in Brazil, with Rafael van der
Vaart ruled out with a calf injury and
joining Paris Saint-Germain right-back
Gregory van der Wiel and Roma's Kevin
Strootman (both knee) on the sidelines.
Victor Valdes tore his anterior cruciate
ligament in what proved to be his last game
for Barcelona against Celta Vigo in March
and Spain will also be without Thiago
Alcantara after the Bayern Munich man
underwent surgery on a knee ligament
problem.
England have already been robbed of the
services of Arsenal winger Theo Walcott. The
fleet-footed wide- man ruptured his anterior
cruciate ligament during an FA Cup clash
with Tottenham in January, and will not be
on the plane to South America.
Two other players who had high hopes of
being named in Roy Hodgson's squad,
Tottenham pair Kyle Walker and Andros
Townsend, will spend the summer
recovering from pelvic and ankle injuries
respectively.
France have been spared injuries to their
main men, but back-up goalkeeper Steve
Mandanda suffered a crack in his first
cervical verterbra (neck) during Marseille's
clash with Guingamp, which rules him out.
Colombia superstar Radamel Falcao seems
unlikely to be fit in time for the World Cup
after tearing his ACL during Monaco's Coupe
de France encounter against Chasselay at the
end of January.
The 28-year-old has been named in his
nation's squad regardless, but faces an uphill
struggle despite being ahead of schedule in
his recovery.
Germany duo Holger Badstuber and Ilkay
Gundogan will play no part in this summer's
tournament. Bayern defender Badstuber has
been out with a cruciate ligament injury
since November 2012 and it is still not clear
when he will return.
Dortmund star Gundogan has made just one
Bundesliga appearance this season due to a
back complaint and his comeback is also
clouded by uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Portugal will have to make do
without teenage starlet Bruma. The
Galatasaray livewire suffered an ACL injury
in January and will be out for at least six
months. Benfica defender Silvio broke his leg
in the Europa League clash with AZ in April
and will not be on the plane to Brazil.
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe underwent a
second operation on his knee in February
and is yet to complete his recovery, but such
is his importance to the national side, coach
Alberto Zaccheroni has named him in his 23-
man squad.
Elsewhere, Jurgen Klinsmann saw
midfielder Stuart Holden ruled out with a
fourth serious knee problem, which will keep
him out of action for between six and nine
months.
And Costa Rica suffered a bitter blow when
Alvaro Saborio, their top active goal-scorer,
was ruled out with a broken metatarsal
suffered in training towards the end of May.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
