A starting XI of stars set to miss the World Cup through injury.
Reports from France’s World Cup camp broke today that star midfielder Franck Ribery could be set to miss the tournament with a back injury that has been plaguing him for the past few weeks.
Manager Didier Deschamps will be left to sweat on Monday night as he prepares to announce his final 23-man squad on Tuesday and there is a stung chance that he will be forced to leave the Bayern Munich man behind.
France coach Bixente Lizarazu said: “We’re worried about Ribery because we don’t know what he has.”
However, should he be left behind he will slot straight into this talented squad of stars who will also sit out the tournament with their own injury concerns.
GK: Victor Valdes – Spain
The shot stopper went down with an anterior cruciate ligament injury back in March, something that not only ruined his World Cup chances but scuppered his chances of securing a move to a new club as well.
DF: Gregory van der Wiel – Netherlands
The Dutchman is currently suffering from tendonitis and has thus been left out of Louis Van Gaal’s travelling party.
DF: Holger Badstuber – Germany
The talented young defender hasn’t step foot onto the pitch for club or country since late 2012 after suffering with a cruciate ligament injury.
DF: Silvio – Portugal
The Benfica ace will be out for some time after breaking his leg during a Europa League encounter with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar back in March.
MF: Kevin Strootman – Roma
The highly sought-after midfield star injured his knee back in March whilst playing for Roma, but that hash’t stopped him from being one of the hottest properties in Europe as the transfer window approaches.
MF: Thiago Alcantara – Spain
The Bayern star underwent surgery on a knee ligament problem recently and was thus ruled out of Spain’s World Cup campaign.
MF: Riccardo Montolivo – Italy
The unlucky Milan star suffered a broken leg during his side’s friendly clash with Ireland this weekend and will subsequently miss out on the tournament, as well as the start of the new season.
MF: Rafael Van Der Vaart – Netherlands
The veteran midfielder picked up a calf strain last week and will not be ready in time to join his young colleagues in Brazil.
MF: Luis Montes – Mexico
The Mexican star found the back of the net in a warm up friendly against Ecuador last week, but shortly after ended up fracturing his leg. Unlucky.
ST: Theo Walcott – Arsenal
The England man suffered a cruciate ligament injury in Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Tottenham back in January. What was the score, Theo?
ST: Christian Benteke – Belgium
Ruled out for a minimum of six months with a ruptured achilles tendon suffered in training towards the tail end of the season.