A number of World Cup stars are in a race to be match forward of the spherical of 16 after selecting up knocks within the group phases.
A number of big-name gamers have missed out on the World Cup 2022 via harm, together with France’s midfield duo of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante.
Others had been delivered to Qatar by their managers who hoped they might get well however have but to characteristic. This listing contains Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, who has now undergone surgical procedure.
The group phases additionally noticed their fair proportion of harm scares, however these updates have usually been drowned out by the hectic four-match per day schedule soccer followers have been handled to over the previous couple of weeks.
Listed here are a number of the big-name gamers who’ve performed on the event however are actually doubtful for the knockout phases:
Neymar – Brazil
Brazil’s star participant was fouled 9 instances throughout the crew’s 2-0 opening win over Serbia. He limped off with an ankle harm and didn’t characteristic within the remaining two group-stage matches.
“I blame myself with Neymar as a result of I didn’t see that he was injured and he performed on for 10 or 11 minutes,” Brazil supervisor Tite later stated.
There have been experiences that the Paris Saint-Germaine striker is receiving cryotherapy in a bid to get himself match for his or her spherical of 16 conflict towards South Korea.
Neymar has endured some dangerous luck on the World Cup, breaking a vertebra in his again towards Colombia within the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals after which enjoying via an ankle harm in 2018.
He has scored 75 objectives in 122 appearances for his nation, simply two shy of Pele’s report.
Danilo – Brazil
The Juventus right-back has stored Neymar firm within the cryotherapy chambers after he additionally picked up an ankle harm in the identical match.
The duo is predicted to return within the knockout phases, with Tite asserting, “I imagine each Neymar and Danilo will play once more within the World Cup. I’ve medical experiences which might be on my facet.”
Cheikhou Kouyate – Senegal
The Nottingham Forest midfielder was compelled off throughout his nation’s opening match towards the Netherlands with a groin harm and didn’t characteristic towards Qatar or Ecuador.
Kouyate brings expertise to Senegal’s midfield and boasts greater than 100 appearances for West Ham and Crystal Palace. He has been a cornerstone of the Senegal crew that received the Africa Cup of Nations title earlier within the yr. Senegal will need him to be match to face England within the final 16 on Sunday.
Christian Pulisic – USA
Pulisic collided with Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand as he met a Sergino Dest cross of their final group stage match. The objective secured his nation’s place within the knockout rounds – the place they may meet the Netherlands – however got here at a worth.
UPDATE: #USMNT ahead Christian Pulisic has been recognized with a pelvic contusion and his standing is day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/abZcjU6tco
— U.S. Males’s Nationwide Soccer Group (@USMNT) November 29, 2022
The influence brought on a pelvic contusion, and Pulisic was compelled off the sector and later obtained hospital remedy.
Nevertheless, the Chelsea winger has instructed followers through social media that he shall be prepared for his or her spherical of 16 match.
In a Snapchat put up, he wrote, “I’ll be prepared Saturday, don’t fear”.
Danilo Pereira – Portugal
The PSG centre-back is hoping to return for his nation’s final 16 match-up with Switzerland after struggling three damaged ribs in coaching throughout the group stage.
Veteran Pepe deputised for Pereira at centre-back alongside Manchester Metropolis’s Ruben Dias within the final two group-stage matches.
