THE WORLD CUP is a showcase for football’s best talent. But every four years there’s those who miss out through injury.
Victor Valdes
Spain
An anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in March means the Barcelona shot-stopper will have to watch the football from home rather than the Spainish subs’ bench.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Silvio
Portugal
The Benfica full-back suffered an horrific break to both the fibula and tibia during a win over AZ Alkmaar during the Portuguese side’s successful Europa League run.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Holger Badstuber
Germany
The highly-rated Bayern Munich defender hasn’t played since 2012 but is almost recovered from a cruciate ligament injury.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Jetro Willems
Holland
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Holland have been badly hit by injuries with the 20-year old PSV man out with a knee injury.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Kevin Strootman
Netherlands
Newly-installed Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admitted that his side’s ‘dreams have died’ after the Roma midfielder hurt his leg.
Kaka, right, is tackled by AS Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Nico Kranjcar
Croatia
The 29-year-old QPR midfielder carried a leg injury into the Championship playoff final against Derby at Wembley last week but decided in the dressingroom afterwards that he wasn’t fit to take his place in Brazil.
Theo Walcott
England
A cruciate ligament injury in the FA Cup win over Tottenham, below, ruled the Gunners’ speed merchant out of the trip to South America.
heo Walcott taunts Tottenham Hotspur fans as he was carried off injured. Adam Davy
Adam Davy
Robbie Kruse
Australia
Strewth! Kruse was one of the Socceroos’ top performers in qualifying but tore knee ligaments some months ago.
Rick Rycroft
Rick Rycroft
Christian Benteke
Belgium
Belgium are many neutral’s favourites but they’ll have to do without ‘Bentekkers’ this time around.
Belgium's Marouane Fellaini and Christian Benteke. Press Association Images
Press Association Images
Jay Rodriguez
England
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
One of a talented batch of young English players at St Mary’s, the Southampton playmaker enjoyed a great season with the Saints, but he suffered a bad knee injury in April. Unlucky, son.
The injured XI: the crocked stars you won't be seeing on the pitch in Brazil this month
THE WORLD CUP is a showcase for football’s best talent. But every four years there’s those who miss out through injury.
Victor Valdes
Spain
An anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in March means the Barcelona shot-stopper will have to watch the football from home rather than the Spainish subs’ bench.
Silvio
Portugal
The Benfica full-back suffered an horrific break to both the fibula and tibia during a win over AZ Alkmaar during the Portuguese side’s successful Europa League run.
Holger Badstuber
Germany
The highly-rated Bayern Munich defender hasn’t played since 2012 but is almost recovered from a cruciate ligament injury.
Jetro Willems
Holland
Holland have been badly hit by injuries with the 20-year old PSV man out with a knee injury.
Rafael van der Vaart
Holland
The former Spurs playmaker was only ruled out of Louis van Gaal’s travelling squad last week. Van der Vaart failed to recover from a calf strain.
Kevin Strootman
Netherlands
Newly-installed Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admitted that his side’s ‘dreams have died’ after the Roma midfielder hurt his leg.
Nico Kranjcar
Croatia
The 29-year-old QPR midfielder carried a leg injury into the Championship playoff final against Derby at Wembley last week but decided in the dressingroom afterwards that he wasn’t fit to take his place in Brazil.
Theo Walcott
England
A cruciate ligament injury in the FA Cup win over Tottenham, below, ruled the Gunners’ speed merchant out of the trip to South America.
Robbie Kruse
Australia
Strewth! Kruse was one of the Socceroos’ top performers in qualifying but tore knee ligaments some months ago.
Christian Benteke
Belgium
Belgium are many neutral’s favourites but they’ll have to do without ‘Bentekkers’ this time around.
Jay Rodriguez
England
One of a talented batch of young English players at St Mary’s, the Southampton playmaker enjoyed a great season with the Saints, but he suffered a bad knee injury in April. Unlucky, son.
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