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Injuries are heartbreaking for any professional footballer. Especially those injuries which occur before the biggest football competition on Earth – the World Cup. A number of world class players such as Michael Ballack and Santiago Canazares have missed the competition due to injury which have deprived their fans from seeing them help their country achieve the ultimate dream. This year a fresh set of players will be deprived from going to Brazil due to various wounds. Here is a list of 5 players who will miss the World Cup due to injury.
#1 Radamel Falcao
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The Colombian ace was having quite a promising season with new club AS Monaco, for whom he scored 11 goals in 19 starts but picked up a knee injury against Monts d”Or Azergues Foot which ended his season.
The £50 millon striker is in danger of missing the World Cup due to his injury which is a pity as he scored 9 goals for his country in the World Cup qualifiers.
Falcao might have a chance of recovering in time for the World Cup but the striker stated that he will not participate in the competition if he fails to fully recover from his injury.
#2 Theo Walcott
Walcott was extremely unlucky not to be included in the 2010 World Cup and will unfortunately not be a part of the England squad in Brazil after picking up a cruciate ligament injury during Arsenal's FA Cup tie against Tottenham at the beginning of this year, which will keep him on the sidelines for six months.
The 25-year-old’s good eye for goal and lighting pace will be missed by the Three Lions in Brazil this year.
#3 Victor Valdes
The Spanish stopper is another player who will sit out the World Cup due to injury. Valdes, who previously stated that he will leave Barcelona at the end of this term, had his season prematurely ended when he picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the match against Celta Vigo on 26th March.
The 32-year-old was never going to be Spain’s first choice keeper in the tournament but would have been a valuable back up to Iker Casillas for La Roja in Brazil.
#4 Christian Benteke
The Aston Villa striker recently recovered from his poor run of form this season and scored back-to-back goals against Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion before injuring his Achilles tendon during a training session in April, which will keep him out of action for six months.
Benteke scored 2 goals for Belgium during the World Cup qualifiers but will be unable to join the team in Brazil now. The 23-year-old is dangerous in front of goal and his prowess will be missed by the Red Devils. The brilliant form of Romelu Lukaku will come as a blessing to head coach Marc Wilmots.
#5 Kevin Strootman
The Dutchman was heavily used by Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal during the World Cup qualifiers but will now miss the competition due to injury. Strootman was having a promising debut season with Serie A club AS Roma before a knee injury picked up against Napoli ended his World Cup hopes.
The 24-year-old’s expertise in the centre of the park will be dearly missed by the Oranje in Brazil.
