Stars face World Cup fitness battle
With the World Cup just under 60 days out, national teams are sweating on the fitness of several critical players.
The United States, rocked by injuries to Charlie Davies, Oguchi Onyewu and Brian Ching, is hardly alone — Brazil, England, Germany, Ghana and Holland all have serious worries.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the bigger injury stories we’re following during the run-up to the Cup.
BRAZIL
Kaka (hernia): A sports hernia kept Kaka out of the biggest game of the year Saturday. He was watching glumly as Real Madrid got messed up by Lionel Messi and Barcelona.
In fact, that hernia has plagued him since his transfer to Madrid from Milan, and is keeping him a doubt for the World Cup. Brazil certainly has no shortage of attacking options, but few of them have the flair he brings when at his best.
With Ronaldinho fading and Pato and Grafite still looking raw, manager Dunga surely would like to be able to call on one of his most trusted attackers.
ENGLAND
Wayne Rooney (ankle): Rooney made a risky start in Manchester United’s must-win game against Bayern Munich, but was forced off after 55 minutes and wound up watching his team lose on the away goals rule from the bench.
Rooney’s fitness is critical to both England’s and Manchester United’s success, and with a very tight table, manager Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to play the gimpy striker earlier than later.
If Rooney is not 100% fit, England, and manager Fabio Capello, have a huge problem. The forward is a fast healer, but the demands placed on him may hamper his long-term future. And remember, Rooney has never lasted through a full international event.
David Beckham (torn Achilles tendon): Beckham’s hopes of making history and his fourth World Cup are over. The AC Milan midfielder was forced to undergo surgery after tearing the tendon in a mid-march Serie A game.
Beckham had put himself through a punishing two-year spell, ferrying back and forth from the Los Angeles Galaxy to the Serie A giants in a hope of becoming the first English player to appear in four Cups, but now he looks to be trying to regain fitness to close out the MLS season. His prognosis is six months of rehab.
Ashley Cole (broken ankle): Cole is set to return to full training this week at Chelsea, making a swift recovery just two months after fracturing his ankle in a challenge with Landon Donovan at Everton.
Both Chelsea and England need Cole; the former is in the driver’s seat for the PL title but can always use their starting left back, while the national team really lacks credible cover as Joleon Lescott plays primarily as a center back.
GERMANY
Sami Khedira (ACL): Stuttgart midfielder Khedira has made himself indispenible at Stuttgart and become a rising talent on the national level, which made the knee injury he suffered in late March against Bayern Munich a potentially huge problem for Joachim Loew.
Khedira will not need surgery, but he is set to miss at least two more weeks. The one good bit of news is that fading Stuttgart will not risk rushing him back as they are out of title contention.
Marcell Jansen (ankle): The Hamburg midfielder is a doubt for the World Cup after picking up an ankle injury in training. He has not returned to regular practice and is expected to miss the remainder of the Bundelsiga season.
Jansen was a backup to Philipp Lahm, but his versatility —he can play anywhere on the field — gave him an excellent shot at making the 23-man roster. With him injured, Loew will have to find another utility man.
GHANA
Michael Essien (hamstring/knee): Essien was injured during Ghana’s run at the African Nations Cup and has just returned to full training. He is expected to play against Stoke, meaning he could get three Premier League games under his belt before the World Cup preparations begin.
HOLLAND
Robin van Persie (ankle): Van Persie ripped his ankle ligaments to shreds in a friendly match with Italy last November, requiring reconstructive surgery and infuriating his club boss, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger.
But Wenger’s caution may pay off for Holland. Loathe to rush him back, van Persie looks now to be fully fit just in time for the Dutch WC campaign. Van Persie began full training with Arsenal two weeks ago and is said to be match fit: As a result, he could slot in for Arsenal’s critical game against Tottenham this Wednesday.
PORTUGAL
Pepe (knee): The Real Madrid center back is still a longshot for Portugal after undergoing ACL surgery to repair the knee he ripped up last December in a league match against Valencia. He is already expected to miss what little remains of the Spanish season and is likely not to make the trip to Port Elizabeth.
SPAIN
Cesc Fabregas (fractured shin): The Arsenal magician is out for the rest of the domestic season and is uncertain to play for the national team this June. Not a sure-fire starter on a team loaded with midfield talent, his loss definitely hurts Vincente del Bosque’s squad depth. And that’s saying something on a team with Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta.
Fernando Torres (knee): It remains to be seen just how serious the knee injury the Spanish striker suffered (most likely against Benfica in the Europa League) really is. He recently returned to Spain for an assessment.
Since Torres walked off the field under his own power after being substituted, it probably won't require a significant layoff, however the Liverpool ace has been plagued by various injuries all season and that must be a cause for concern for Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque.
UNITED STATES
Oguchi Onyewu (knee): Onyewu ruptured his patellar tendon on a non-contact play in the USA’s final World Cup qualifier last October. Since that time, he hasn’t played a game for AC Milan and is battling to be fit for June.
It’s a longshot, and the fact that he is getting no playing time with his club won’t help matters. That said, if fit, he’s a lock for the USA because the Americans have no other options.
Charlie Davies (car crash): The forward is said to me making remarkable progress from a deadly crash that left him with a lacerated bladder, multiple fractures, cuts and contusions. The kid was flat-out lucky.
He’s currently training with his French club Sochaux and is aiming to play in the final two matches of the Ligue One season. If that comes to pass, it’ll be nothing short of a miracle.
Brian Ching (hamstring): Ching tore his hamstring in the Dynamo’s first game of the season, against Real Salt Lake. For, Ching, who is sitting on the fringe of the USA’s plans as it is, the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time.
He’s currently watching Edson Buddle catch fire in Los Angeles, while Robbie Findley is also in the mix as cover for both Davies and Jozy Altidore. He is expected to be fit by early May, but that might just be too late to make the plane with Bob Bradley's team.
Jamie Trecker is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com covering the Champions League and European football.