Group B: The Group of Doctors

It probably isn’t any different than previous World Cup years, but this time around I feel like I am getting in education in medicine as the teams prepare for Germany. Much of the news has been focused on player injuries with terms like ‘metatarsal’ and ‘plantar fasciitis’ become part of my dinner time conversation. The group that has most improved my medical knowledge is Group B, which has multiple teams hanging on every word of their medical professionals.

Unless you have been living in an underground cave or simply have a device that blocks all news about England, you know that Wayne Rooney is trying to recover in time from his metatarsal bone break. The eyes of a nation will be focused on an MRI scan of the foot on Thursday.

Sweden’s Freddy Ljunberg also has a hobbled foot. The stud muffin has been playing with a bum wheel for most of the year and has had it drained following a number of Arsenal’s matches. I’ve never had my foot drained, but that doesn’t sound especially fun considering the guy makes a living using it to kick a ball. The news isn’t great for Freddy now that doctors have told him he should rest through the opening round. My guess is that he’ll play through the pain. The guy drains his foot for goodness sake. He can’t miss the World Cup.

Paraguay’s injury concerns are slightly higher on the body. Star striker Roque Santa Cruz is trying to recover from severe tendonitis in his right knee following surgery on said knee. Santa Cruz thinks that he should be able to play in Germany but Paraguay fans have a right to be concerned if he isn’t feeling up to par. Defenders Julio Cesar Caceres and Denis Caniza and midfielder Carlos Paredes are all hobbling around with leg injuries that aren’t expected to keep them from playing in Germany.

The least medically dependent team in Group B at the moment is Trinidad & Tobago. Cornell Glen is battling a hamstring injury and a few Soca Warriors have minor injuries, but compared to their upcoming opponents T&T have done nothing to help me get into medical school.