What are the prospects of crocked superstars recovering in time for the tournament in Brazil?
The World Cup is just days away but, as they prepare to take part in the greatest show on earth, the superstars of the game and the fans live in fear of the tournament-ending injury. The perils of the training camp and the World Cup warm-up are well documented. England fans will remember the saga of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney's broken metatarsals in the build-up to major tournaments, and between now and 12 June every hamstring tweak or stubbed toe among the game's elite will be greeted with hysterical medical assessments of their chances of being fit for Brazil. Some stars, including England's Theo Walcott and Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdez were ruled out months ago, others like Radamel Falcao only found out recently, and for those who remain, the race to be fit is well and truly on:
5 JUNE
- Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid and Portugal
- Injury: Tendinosis in knee / thigh strain / cursed by witch doctor
- When injured: Ongoing problem (first cursed in Feburary)
- Due back: Unknown
- Prospects: Doubtful for opener.
There are fears that the world's best player will miss Portugal's crucial opening game against Germany on 16 June, and could even be ruled out of the entire tournament. The Real Madrid superstar was beset by niggling injuries towards the end of the Spanish season (see below), but on Wednesday the Portguese camp confirmed that he was suffering from tendinosis in his left knee as well as a thigh strain. Ronaldo has not played since the Champions League final on 25 May and has been training separately to the rest of the squad at their base in New York. Although the thigh strain is ongoing, news of the knee problem represents a new concern. Tendinosis is caused by long-term wear and tear and can take months to recover from, according to the BBC. But that may not be the worst of Ronaldo's problems. A Ghanaian witch doctor called Nana Kwaku Bonsam has taken credit for the Portuguese player's injuries and says he has beem "working on him" since February in order to rule him out of the match against Ghana on 26 June. Ronaldo's injuries "can never be cured by any medic" he says.
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Arsenal and England
- Injury: Knee ligament damage
- When injured: Friendly against Ecuador
- Due back: Unknown
- Prospects: Waiting on test results
The Arsenal winger, who has been out of action since April, appeared to pick up yet another injury during England's warm-up against Ecuador on Wednesday, when an opposing player rolled onto his ankle, causing his leg to give way. Oxlade-Chamerlain clutched his knee and looked glum as he was helped off the pitch. After the game manager Roy Hodgson refused to speculate on the extent of the injury, but confirmed that the 20-year-old would have to undergo a scan on his right knee. "I'll have to wait until I know the extent of the injury before making any other comment," said Hodgson. Oxlade-Chamberlain has a bad track record with injuries and has only just recovered from a groin problem, he also missed much of last season after damaging ligaments in his left knee on the first day of the campaign.
- Robin Van Persie: Man United and Netherlands
- Injury: Groin strain
- When injured: Friendly against Wales
- Due back: Soon
- Prospects: Good
The Netherlands striker was taken off at half time in the warm-up fixture against Wales, after appearing to suffer a groin problem. The 32-year-old said he had come off as a precaution. "I wouldn't call it an injury," he explained. "It built up during the game so I decided it was sensible to come off." Manager Louis Van Gaal said he thought his captain would be fit for the game against Spain on 13 June. "He has a little injury and I think it is better that you don't risk a bigger injury playing the second half," he said.
3 JUNE
- Radamel Falcao: Monaco and Colombia
- Injury: Anterior cruciate ligament
- When injured: January
- Due back: June
- Prospects: Ruled out
The Colombian striker finally lost his race to be fit for the World Cup finals days before the tournament got underway. The 28-year-old striker was part of Colombia's initial 30-man squad for the finals in Brazil despite not having played since January. However, he was not on the final 23-man list handed into Fifa on 2 June. His absence is a hammer-blow for Colombia, who were considered one of the tournament's dark horses. The striker tore his ACL playing for Monaco in a cup game against Chasselay in January. The initial prognosis was that he would miss the tournament, but the striker had other ideas. Falcao's injury was similar to the one that sidelined Theo Walcott and came nearly three weeks after the Arsenal man was hurt. But despite making what looked like a miraculous recovery, coach Jose Pekerman was forced to accept that he would not be able to play a "meaningful" role for Colombia.
- Franck Ribery: Bayern Munich and France
- Injury: Back
- When injured: Ongoing problem
- Due back: Unknown
- Prospects: Doubtful
Fears are growing in France that talisman Franck Ribery may not be fit for the tournament in Brazil because of a long-standing back problem. The injury restricted the winger to just 18 Bundesliga starts for Bayern Munich last season. He has missed both France's warm-up games against Norway and Paraguay amid concerns that he will be forced out of the French squad. He has been included in the final 23-man squad, but if he is unable to play in France's final warm-up match against Jamaica on Sunday his participation in the tournament will be in serious doubt.
- Riccardo Montolivo: AC Milan and Italy
- Injury: Broken leg
- When injured: Word Cup warm-up vs Ireland
- Due back: August
- Prospects: Out of the tournament
The AC Milan midfielder suffered a fractured tibia in his left leg during a World Cup warm up game against Ireland at Craven Cottage on Friday. The injury came just 13 minutes into the match when he was tackled by Reading centre-back Alex Pearce. The challenge did not appear dangerous but as Montolivo was stretchered off he reportedly told team-mates: "It's broken". The creative midfielder will be missed by Italy, but they have ready made replacements in Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi.
- Luis Suarez: Liverpool and Uruguay
- Injury: Knee
- When injured: World Cup training
- Due back: Mid-June
- Prospects: Possible
Suarez could be the biggest casualty of the summer if he is ruled out of the tournament, but he appears to be winning his race for fitness and was included in Uruguay's final squad for the tournament. He even texted some England players to warn them he would be fit. The striker twisted his knee in training on 21 May and an MRI scan revealed menicus cartilage damage. He has undergone keyhole surgery and now faces a race against time to be fit for Uruguay's opening games against Costa Rica and England. He is expected to be out for anything from three to six weeks.
- Diego Costa: Atletico Madrid and Spain
- Injury: Hamstring
- When injured: Champions League final
- Due back: Late-May
- Prospects: Hopeful
The Brazil-born Spanish forward limped out of the Champions League final after failing to overcome a hamstring problem. Costa broke down despite visiting 'miracle doctor' Marijana Kovacevic in Belgrade in an effort to be fit for the final. Worryingly, it is not an unusual problem for Costa. "It is feared that the painful spasms Costa has been suffering with which could curtail his blossoming career," says the Daily Telegraph. However, Costa insists he will be ready when the action begins in Brazil and expects to play a part in Spain's warm-up against El Salvador in Washington this week.
- Kolo Toure: Liverpool and Ivory Coast
- Injury: Malaria
- When injured: On trip to Abidjan Due back: Unknown
- Prospects: Good
The Ivorian was struck down with the disease on a trip to his homeland before joining the rest of the squad in Dallas. The defender was first infected with the mosquito-borne disease while an Arsenal player in 2008. On that occasion he needed hospital treatment, but this time he has been able to join his team mates in the US.
- Luis Montes: Club Leon and Mexico
- Injury: Broken leg
- When injured: World Cup warm-up vs Ecuador
- Due back: Later this year
- Prospects: Out of the tournament.
The midfielder scored in Mexico's 3-1 win over Ecuador in Texas on Saturday, but ended the night in hospital after a coming together with opponent Segundo Castillo. The injury looked gruesome at the time and was later confirmed that he had a broken tibia and fibula and the player will be out for several months. The 28-year-old midfielder was a key member of the Mexico side.
MAY
- Neymar: Barcelona and Brazil
- Injury: Foot
- When injured: Copa del Rey final, 16 April
- Due back: Mid-May
- Prospects: Hopeful
For Brazil, losing the services of their biggest superstar, Neymar, would have been disastrous, but his participation in this summer's tournament appeared to be in doubt after he picked up an injury to his left foot in Barcelona's season-wrecking defeat in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. However, the prognosis for the 22-year-old has improved since then, and the player came on as a substitute in Barcelona's final match of the season against Atletico Madrid on 18 May. He was out of touch, but he should be fine for Brazil.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid and Portugal
- Injury: Thigh/hamstring
- When injured: Mid-April
- Due back: Late May
- Prospects: Fine
The world's best player was an unused substitute in the Champions League quarter finals because of a knee problem, but he subsequently missed the weekend fixture against Almeira and the Copa del Rey final with a muscle injury. He then limped off on the final day of the season with a hamstring problem, adding to concerns about long-term niggles. However, Real have confirmed that the Ballon d'Or winner will be fit for the Champions League final, and as long as he survives that game he should be fine for the World Cup. "Real have not indicted how long the ex-Manchester United player could be out for, although Spanish media reports claim he will only be sidelined for a couple of weeks," reports the BBC.
- Sami Khedira: Real Madrid and Germany
- Injury: Anterior cruciate ligament
- When injured: November
- Due back: May
- Prospects: Fine
Another victim of the dreaded ACL tear, Germany star Khedira broke down in November and underwent surgery. He returned to the Real Madrid side at the end of the season after six months out and seems certain to make it to Brazil.
APRIL
- Jack Wilshere: Arsenal and England Injury: Broken foot
- When injured: Early March
- Due back: Early May
- Prospects: Good
Wilshere has had a torrid time with injuries in his short career, and his hoodoo struck again when he was on England duty in a friendly against Denmark. After initially being given the all clear it was later discovered that he had a broken bone in his foot, and was ruled out for the foreseeable future. But the midfielder resumed training this week and manager Arsene Wenger hopes he will play before the end of the season. Arsenal need him and so do England. He even went as far as to announce that the player would be available for England when Roy Hodgson announces his squad on 13 May. However, Wilshere's record and the Gunners' apparent inability to properly rehabilitate their injured players mean that nothing should be taken for granted. Source The Week UK
