World Cup Injury Merry-Go-Round
With five days to go before the start of the World Cup the players are keeping the various medical staffs busy, while also making coaches and fans nervous. The injury bug continued to spread its nastiness the past few days, raising questions about the availability of some critical players for the month-long tournament.
Defender Daniele Bonera is on standby for Italy’s World Cup squad in case Gianluca Zambrotta is forced out with a thigh injury. The loss of Zambrotta would be a major blow for the Azzurri defense so the Italians will use every second possible before making an official switch if necessary.
The injury woes continue as well for fellow Group E team Czech Republic with star striker Milan Baros fighting a foot injury. The Czechs are already facing injury problems with midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Tomas Galasek both dinged up. Libor Sionko has also replaced Vladimir Smicer on the roster.
The news is better for the United States in Group E with oft-injured captain Claudio Reyna close to being fully fit.
In Group C, Serbia and Montenegro striker Mateja Kezman injured his knee in training and may not be able to play in the World Cup. This would be a big loss for an S&M team that doesn’t necessarily have a plethora of goal scorers. EDIT: He looks good to go.
Group C opponent Netherlands will have to wait and see how severe the injuries three of their players sustained in today’s friendly against Australia. Philip Cocu, Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst all limped off with injuries. Given the Dutch team’s questionable depth they can ill afford injuries.
The news is somewhat better in Group B with Sweden keeper Andreas Isaksson apparently is not too bad off after picking up an injury in practice. Michael Owen is also good to go against Paraguay and his counterpart Roque Santa Cruz is ready to beat up on Owen’s defensive teammates.
Meanwhile, the low altitude is treating Ecuador well with the team experiencing no serious injuries. Saudi Arabia is having a bit of a problem with the cold German weather (it is shitty here) and Croatia is having a bit of a stomach bug going around.
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Comments
By Mike | June 4th, 2006 at 11:59 am 
It is a shame to see players pick up injuries this late into things. Even if I don’t like a team I want them to have their best players at the World Cup.
Posted from 
Germany
By Martin | June 4th, 2006 at 12:53 pm Same. You want the best players in the world at the WC, regardless of whom they play for.
By Stuart | June 4th, 2006 at 12:54 pm Agreed. Look for teams to make more careful choices for friendly opponents in 2010, and possibly not schedule as many. It’s a shame all around, the teams need the time and games to really get cohesive, but if the price is significant risk of injury, it may be too high a price. Let’s hope all sides are at full strengh in time for their opening matches.
Posted from 
United States
By Enderson | June 4th, 2006 at 1:03 pm Just to add to this horrible injury epidemy:
Edmilson (Brazilian midfielder) had to be cut of the team last week because of a knee injury as well… Mineiro was called to replace him.
Posted from United States
By Antonio | June 4th, 2006 at 5:49 pm “Meanwhile, the low altitude is treating Ecuador well with the team experiencing no serious injuries”
I am sure you also know that Ecuador has most of their land at sea level right?
Posted from United States
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