AS THE football season approaches its climax the prospect of this summer’s World Cup is looming large. But with so much to play for in the final weeks of the season and so little time for players to rest between the end of the campaign and the start of the tournament in Brazil, the world’s best are walking a fitness tightrope.
England fans will remember the saga of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney’s broken metatarsals in the build-up to major tournaments, and between now and June every hamstring tweak or stubbed toe among the game’s elite will be greeted with hysterical medical assessments of their chances of being fit for Brazil.
Some stars, including Theo Walcott and Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdez have already been ruled out, but for others the race to be fit is well and truly on:
Neymar: Barcelona and Brazil
Injury: Foot
When injured: Copa del Rey final, 16 April
Due back: Mid-May
Prospects: Hopeful
For Brazil, losing the services of their biggest superstar, Neymar, would have been disastrous, but his participation in this summer’s tournament appeared to be in doubt after he picked up an injury to his left foot in Barcelona’s season-wrecking defeat in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.
However, the prognosis for the 22-year-old has improved since then, and the player hopes to be available for Barcelona’s final match of the season against Atletico Madrid on 18 May. If he is not fit by then he will have precious little time to prove that he can still star for the hosts in June and July.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid and Portugal
Injury: Thigh muscle
When injured: Mid-April
Due back: Late April / early May
Prospects: Good
The world’s best player was an unused substitute in the Champions League quarter finals because of a knee problem, but he subsequently missed the weekend fixture against Almeira and the Copa del Rey final with a muscle injury.
“Real have not indicted how long the ex-Manchester United player could be out for, although Spanish media reports claim he will only be sidelined for a couple of weeks,” reports the BBC.
If he isn’t back soon it could spell bad news for Portugal.
Yaya Toure: Manchester City and Ivory Coast
Injury: Groin
When injured: 13 April
Due back: Late April
Prospects: Good
The Ivory Coast midfielder pulled up after trying a long-range effort in the early stages of Man City’s game against Liverpool on Sunday. He limped off soon after and there were fears that he would not play again this season.
However, City boss Manuel Pellegrini had good news for Ivory Coast fans two days later. Having initially suggested his race was run, he said on Wednesday: “He’s not so bad as we thought. He will miss at least 10 days, two weeks.”
Jack Wilshere: Arsenal and England Injury: Broken foot
When injured: Early March
Due back: Early May
Prospects: Good
Wilshere has had a torrid time with injuries in his short career, and his hoodoo struck again when he was on England duty in a friendly against Denmark. After initially being given the all clear it was later discovered that he had a broken bone in his foot, and was ruled out for the foreseeable future.
But the midfielder resumed training this week and manager Arsene Wenger hopes he will play before the end of the season. Arsenal need him and so do England. He even went as far as to announce that the player would be available for England when Roy Hodgson announces his squad on 13 May.
However, Wilshere’s record and the Gunners’ apparent inability to properly rehabilitate their injured players mean that nothing should be taken for granted.
Radamel Falcao: Monaco and Colombia
Injury: Anterior cruciate ligament
When injured: January
Due back: End of the season
Prospects: Slim
The striker tore his ACL playing for Monaco in a cup game against Chasselay. The initial prognosis was that he would miss the tournament, but the 28-year-old had other ideas and is now in with a slim chance of getting fit for the tournament.
Although Falcao’s injury is similar to the one that has sidelined Theo Walcott and came nearly three weeks after the Arsenal man was hurt, his recovery appears to have been quicker and doctors believe that he could be jogging by the end of May. Colombia’s first match is on 14 June.
Speaking earlier this month he said: ““I’m recovering quickly. Physiotherapy is going very well… I’m a little ahead of what was expected, but we know very well that it’s day to day that we’ll see the evolution. I have the desire and motivation to return.”
Sami Khedira: Real Madrid and Germany
Injury: Anterior cruciate ligament
When injured: November
Due back: May
Prospects: A realistic chance
Another victim of the dreaded ACL tear, Germany star Khedira broke down in November and underwent surgery. He has now resumed training with Real Madrid after five months out and could return to the first team before the end of the season, which would boost his chances of making it to Brazil.