With the World Cup just two weeks away and national teams soon to be appointing their squads, any report of even minor injuries is met with concern.
Some players have been eliminated from the tournament, while others are racing against time to get back into shape before the tournament. For example, the Premier League is suspended just a week before Qatar and Ecuador kick off on November 20 in Doha.
Here, the athlete breaks down the state of affairs for some of the names that are in danger of being missed.
In danger: Angel Di Maria (hamstrings), Paulo Dybala (quads)
Out of:
Angel Di Maria is in a race to fitness after suffering a three-week hamstring injury last month. Paulo Dybala also has a hamstring problem which he picked up while playing for Roma against Lecce.
Brazil
In danger: Richarlison (calf), Bremer (thigh)
Out of: Arthur Melo
There were fears Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison would miss the World Cup after picking up an injury in the win over Everton, but head coach Antonio Conte has since said the striker should return ahead of the tournament.
Belgium
In danger: Romelu Lukaku (thigh)
Out of: Alexis Saelemaekers
Romelu Lukaku had returned from a two-month injury layoff before suffering another hamstring problem against Sampdoria. Inter Milan said that the striker’s injury will be reassessed in a few days.
AC Milan’s Charles De Ketelaere has also returned to training after a break.
Canada
In danger:
Out of: Scott Kennedy (shoulder)
Scott Kennedy was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a shoulder injury while playing for Regensburg in Germany’s second division.
Denmark
In danger: Simon Kjaer (thigh), Andreas Christensen (ankle)
Out of:
Milan’s Simon Kjaer has missed much of the season and is currently out with a hamstring injury. Andreas Christensen, on the other hand, has not played since suffering an ankle injury earlier in the month.
In danger: Reece James (knee), Kyle Walker (groin), Kalvin Phillips (shoulder), Ben Chilwell (hamstring)
Out of: Emile Smith Rowe (groin)
Reece James faces a major challenge to be fit for the World Cup after suffering a knee injury and will be a brace for the next four weeks. Defender Kyle Walker is also out.
Ben Chilwell, meanwhile, appeared to pick up a hamstring injury while playing for Chelsea against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
Kalvin Phillips is also a doubt for Gareth Southgate’s side after shoulder surgery but his Manchester City team-mate John Stones is expected to return to club football next week.
France
In danger: Wesley Fofana (knee), Lucas Hernandez (adductors), Mike Maignan (calf), Raphael Varane (hamstring), Jules Kounde (hamstring), Boubacar Kamara (knee)
Out of: N’Golo Kante (thigh), Paul Pogba (knee)
France’s injury list for September’s Nations League games was a concern, with N’Golo Kante ruled out and Wesley Fofana a big doubt.
But Didier Deschamps’ midfield has taken another blow after Paul Pogba suffered an injury setback that will see him sit out the tournament.
Milan’s Mike Maignan has returned to training after suffering an injury of his own.
Germany
In danger: Armel Bella-Kotchap (Shoulder), Leroy Sane (Thigh), Florian Neuhaus (Knee), Mahmoud Dahoud (Shoulder)
Out of:
Southampton’s Armel Bella-Kotchap made his Germany debut in September and is struggling to regain fitness after dislocating his shoulder.
But Hansi Flick will be happy that Marco Reus has returned from injury and that Manuel Neuer is unlikely to be out for long with a shoulder bruise.
Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane are expected to return to the Bayern squad in the near future.
Netherlands
In danger: Memphis Depay (thigh)
Out of: Georginio Wijnaldum (leg)
Roma’s Georginio Wijnaldum suffered a horrible blow after breaking his tibia in training in August and will miss the World Cup. Memphis Depay has not played for Barcelona since suffering a hamstring injury at the end of September.
Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, meanwhile, has a slight knee problem but is expected to recover soon.
In danger: Nuno Mendes (Achilles), Pepe (knee)
Out of: Pedro Neto (ankle), Diogo Jota (thigh)
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota will miss the World Cup after suffering a calf injury in Sunday’s win against Manchester City.
Premier League attacker Pedro Neto has already been ruled out after straining ligaments in his ankle earlier this month.
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota will miss the World Cup after injuring his calf against Manchester City (Photo: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
South Korea
In danger: Son Heung-min (face)
Out of:
Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min undergoes surgery on Wednesday for a facial injury sustained in the club’s Champions League win over Marseille, which puts his participation in the 2022 World Cup with South Korea at risk.
Son, 30, suffered a fracture around his left eye in the 2-1 win in France.
In danger: Gerard Moreno (hamstring), Sergio Reguilon (groin), Mikel Oyarzabal (knee)
Out of:
Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal is a doubt for Spain after tearing his cruciate ligament in March but returned to training earlier this month.
Dani Olmo, on the other hand, is set to return to RB Leipzig soon. The German side gave Olmo a six-week return date when he injured his ankle in early September.
US
In danger: Daryl Dike (hamstring), Chris Richards (leg), Weston McKennie (hamstring)
Out of: Miles RobinsonAchilles
Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson will miss the World Cup after tearing his Achilles tendon in May.
In better news, Antonee Robinson has returned to Fulham after missing the September squad through injury and Tim Weah has returned to the Lille team after a foot injury prevented him from starting the season.
(Photos: Getty Images)
