The World Cup in Qatar is getting closer. Over the past week, the FIFA has submitted to FIFA a preliminary squad of 35-55 players, including four goalkeepers. Before 0:00 Beijing time on November 15, each team will submit a final list of 26 players, with a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 26, with at least 3 goalkeepers. However, teams can substitute finalists up to 24 hours before the start of the first World Cup match, including but not limited to the submitted preliminary list. At that time, the primary factor influencing the decision of the managers of each team should no longer be the need for the tactical system, but the health of the players.
Because the World Cup will take place in winter for the first time in history, the tension between it and the professional league is more prominent than ever. The five major leagues and European fixtures have been intensive to make way for the World Cup, with the new season running intensely for almost three months since its opening in early August, and injuries have become increasingly prominent as the World Cup enters a month countdown.
France defeats Germany in the group stage of the European Championship on June 16, 2021. Now that Varane (first from left) and Pogba (second from left) are injured, it is doubtful whether they will be able to qualify for the World Cup. Xinhua News Agency
Watching the league in recent times has changed from scouting players to a bit of a fear for coaches around the world, especially for Deschamps, the manager of reigning World Cup champions France.
In early September, Pogba, who initially chose conservative treatment in order to catch the World Cup, ended up undergoing meniscus surgery, and Juve manager Allegri directly predicted Pogba's return in January next year. The farcical family dispute between Pogba and his brother has created discord in France's preparations. Pogba, the leader of the dressing room of the French team in the last World Cup, if he could not go to Qatar, the outside world felt that the "time bomb" had been lifted, after all, the 23-year-old Mbappe is now becoming more and more "troublesome" for both his teammates and opponents.
On 19 October, Chelsea announced that N'Golo Kante had successfully undergone surgery and is expected to miss four months in injury. This was the first heavy blow to Deschamps.
"There is no obstacle in the world that cannot be passed, only a Kanter that cannot be passed!" At the 2018 World Cup, N'Golo Kante made a name for himself with hard work, octopus-like interception and defensive performances in midfield. He and Paul Pogba are the key to France's second Cup of Hercules. In addition, Kamara, a defensive midfielder who has only been selected for the national team this year and has been developed by Deschamps, is also confirmed to be injured.
On June 30, 2018, in the 1/8 final of the World Cup, France's Kante (right) and Argentina's Lionel Messi fought each other in a match. Xinhua News Agency
It's not just the midfield that can give Deschamps a headache, the more important ones in the French team's injured camp are the leader of the back line, Varane, the main defender Lucas Hernandez and the strong competition for the main goalkeeper Mignan . Varane, who was injured in United's league match against Chelsea on 22 October, left the pitch in emotion and crying, thinking he would not have made it to the World Cup. After a post-match examination, Varane injured his right thigh biceps and is expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks. It's hard to make it to the World Cup opener, but if you recover, you can catch up with the post-group stage and knockout stage.
In addition, the French Football Federation has taken Maignan to the national team base Clay Fontaine for treatment, and the French team medical team will race against time.
In an interview with AFP on October 26, Deschamps stressed that he would only take fully recovered players to Qatar, but on the other hand, he seemed to open a door for several important ministers, "The only certainty at the moment is that N'Golo Kante will not participate in this World Cup." For other wounded people, it is necessary to see how they recover from their injuries. Everyone's situation is different. For Pogba, he still has time to adjust through club games before going to the World Cup, so I think he has more chances than other injured players. Varane's injury is also not too controversial because he is just a muscle problem. ”
Zidane also referred earlier about France's current situation: "It's certainly not good to have an injury before a major tournament, but it can happen halfway through the season. You have to overcome the difficulties and make good use of the people available to us, we have a lot of players that we can use. Unfortunately, something like this happens before every competition. I hope Varane and the other players can be in the World Cup. ”
Waiting for the injured to affect the final preparation and even the match, the French team has experienced it before. In 2002, Zidane missed France's first two games due to injury, and stumbled in the third game with an injured leg, and it was difficult to stop the defending champions from scoring a goal in three group games and being embarrassed to get out, and the "curse of the World Cup champion" began. At Euro 2008, Domenek forced the injured Vieira to take him, but he missed a minute, wasting a spot.
If the "one-headed" Deschamps leads France to a poor performance in Qatar, Zidane, who has declared that he will "soon return to work and continue his coaching career", may be the best replacement.
Portugal's Jota (right) fights with Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League on 9 June. Xinhua News Agency
Among the great powers, Portugal has also been hit hard. Striker Jota was stretchered out in Liverpool's red-and-blue clash with Manchester City, shattering his World Cup dreams in Qatar. Jota is number one on the list of players with a World Cup confirmed by the German transfer market network, while Portugal's young winger Neto, who plays for Wolves in the Premier League, is fourth. Coupled with Rafa Silva's sudden announcement of his retirement from the national team last month, veteran Portuguese coach Santos is also facing the dilemma of having no one available up front. In addition, veteran Pepe, left-back Nuno Mendes and defender Danilo Pereira are all plagued by injuries.
On 5 October, in the third round of the Champions League, Chelsea won at home against AC Milan, with Chelsea's Reece James (left) battling for the top spot. Reece James was replaced by injury in the second leg meeting on October 12. Xinhua News Agency
England, who was drawn to the top, was no better. First, Arsenal teenager Smith Rowe determined that he would not be able to make it to the World Cup after surgery, and then the resource-rich Three Lions suffered a series of disasters at right-back, and the "Big Four Kong" injured three. Among them, the most reassuring Alexander Arnold has returned. Walker, who underwent surgery in early October, is recovering actively. Pep Guardiola is optimistic that Walker and his club and England team-mate Kelvin Phillips are "well back in time for the World Cup". Reece James, who injured his knee in early October, was the worst and is still on crutches.
Among other stars, there are also Argentina's Dybala and Di Maria. The Angel's active recovery should be fine, while Dybala's injury is a bit ambiguous. In the list of primary elections reported by the Argentine media, both are listed.
In the favor of winning the championship, there is currently no major "injury" of the Brazilian team.
Nandu reporter Tao Xinlei