Messi to Miss Opener; Injuries Send World Cup Players Home
The injury news continues to hit the World Cup hard with reports today that Argentina sensation Lionel Messi is likely to miss his team’s opening match against Ivory Coast because he has not fully recovered from a thigh injury that has kept him out since March. Messi says that he expects to gain fitness in time to help Argentina at some point in the World Cup. The news is even worse for a number of players.
Switzerland striker Johan Vonlanthen has been ruled out of the World Cup. His spot on the roster is expected to be taken by Hakan Yakin. The Young Boys Berne (great team name!) playmaker has been added to the squad although his name will not be submitted to FIFA until June 12, the day before Switzerland open their campaign against France.
It has also been confirmed today that Serbia and Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic will miss the World Cup with a knee injury. A replacement will be named in the next few days.
Third string Portugal keeper Bruno Vale also will miss out on the World Cup experience. Vale fractured his right foot on Thursday in an under-21 match against Serbia and Montenegro at the European championship in Portugal. He has been replaced by 33-year-old Paulo Santos on the Portugal roster.
Ukraine also is experiencing World Cup fitness worries. Coach Oleg Blokhin says that only 16 of his 23 players are in form and ready to play in the World Cup. Blokhin is an eternal pessimist so it is hard to say if he really has worries. One player who is out for sure is Dynamo Kiev full back Sergei Fedorov. His replacement has not been named yet.
To end on an upbeat note, Australia’s Harry Kewell expects to be ready to go for the Socceroos opening match against Japan. Tim Cahill and John Aloisi also are ready to dance for the Aussies in Germany.
I’ve dealing with a few allergies today, but feel confident I’ll recover in time to LiveBlog the matches on June 9. A trained monkey is standing by just in case I am unable to go. It will be a game time decision.
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Comments
By Raheel | May 27th, 2006 at 4:31 pm 
I will fervently wish that Messi and Rooney, among other injured ,make it to the World Cup, because it would not be the same spectacle without their sublime skills on display. With domestic seasons all over the world forever lengthening , worries regearding player’s fitness at the end of such serpentine seasons will persist . It is high time FIFA stepped in to ensure player safety and quality of play at the showpiece event.
Posted from 
India
By Walter | May 27th, 2006 at 5:23 pm My guess is that Messi will be fine. He’s just playing down expectations. Smart kid for being so young.
By nick | May 27th, 2006 at 11:32 pm totally agree with Raheel. While we love watching domestic leagues and cups all over the world it is definitely time to reduce the number of games the players play in a season. While we a certain to see world cups in the future with both Messi and Rooney, it would be a shame if they could not compete in this one with the likes of zidane who plays in his last world cup. To the footballing gods we pray………………..
Posted from 
Australia
By OPKO | May 31st, 2006 at 8:50 am See Ukraine blog:
Olexander Yatsenko is to replace Serhiy Federov
Posted from 
Canada
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