The Anticipation for 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™

There is less than a week left until the first matches commence in the most popular sporting tournament in the world, The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.  The excitement has reached a crescendo as each qualified nation are finalizing their preparations for the month-long tournament that will determine the Champions of the World!
Citizens of the thirty-two nations place their collective hearts and minds into the skilled hands or more literally the feet of their respective national teams.  Even in the United States where football/soccer is still not the most popular sport the excitement is more evident than in years past.

Every four years all countries have high expectations that this will be their time, their year and they will witness history as the World Cup Trophy is raised by their new national heroes.  For three long years prior to the World Cup each national team goes through a qualifying process and once they accomplish that each coach has to make agonizing decisions of trimming their respective squads from a preliminary thirty-man to the final twenty-three.  There is much fanfare in the media including both controversy and disappointment for players and supporters alike.  The disappointment of being cut after years of blood, sweat and tears can be heartbreaking but nothing can be worse than picking up an unwanted injury that would have an effect on whether that particular player could represent their country on the world stage.

Injuries of course are part of the sport and they happen at inopportune times however it appears in this World Cup year the bad luck has occurred more frequently to many more high-profile players.  There are several players where injury quickly knocked them out of competing in South Africa for the respective countries.  David Beckham tore his Achilles tendon while playing with Italian club side AC Milan on March 14th ruling him out until year's end.  He was aiming to be the first Englishmen to play in four World Cups.  Charlie Davies, a young American was seriously hurt in a near fatal car accident in October of 2009 and after months of intense rehabilitation had planned to return to his club team Sochaux of French Ligue 1 to complete any last rehab in hopes of being cleared medically and therefore be included in the thirty-man preliminary squad.  He was not cleared and will miss the World Cup.

Another long-term injured player from England is Owen Hargreaves.  He had been hampered with knee problems for years and after his transfer to Manchester United in 2007 and a full season of first team football needed double-knee surgery.  He has yet to gain full fitness for his club which means he too will miss playing in South Africa.  More recently Michael Ballack, captain of Germany, tore ligaments in his right ankle while playing with English side Chelsea in the FA Cup Final 2010 in May.  The injury was severe enough that he will be unable to play for his country.  A month later American Jozy Altidore sprained his right ankle in a training session however early reports are he will be fit enough to compete in their opening match against England on June 12th.

Other players were not as fortunate as Altidore such and Andrea Pirlo of Italy who suffered a calf injury during an international friendly against Mexico on June 2nd and will most likely miss helping Italy defend the title.  The injured have kept piling up as the days crept closer to June 11th.  Two other high-profile captains, England's Rio Ferdinand and Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba suffered terrible injuries both on Friday June 4th.  During training Ferdinand hurt his knee which turned out to be knee ligament damage that will rule him out of action for a month or more.  Drogba dislocated his right elbow during an international friendly against Japan.  Both of these injuries will keep them from leading their fellow teammates out in hopes of winning the Trophy.  While writing this news came early this morning that the Netherlands' Arjen Robben was removed from their international friendly against Hungary with a hamstring problem that may rule him out or at best limit his participation in South Africa.

FIFA must do something about this injury epidemic.  As stated earlier injuries are a part of the sport however this year and the months and weeks leading up to 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ the injuries have occurred at an alarming rate.  Throughout each players' respective seasons they have been run to the breaking point domestically, internationally, and in other competitions.  They are in top form and probably a lot more fit than most of the world however they rarely have time to rest their bodies and heal from playing for nine months at such a high level.  The weeks leading up to the World Cup should be a time of preparation however questions need to be asked regarding the need to play actual friendly matches where injury is more likely to occur.  I am looking forward to an exciting tournament and hope both the United States and England have a very strong showing in addition to every Manchester United player that proudly represents their respective country in South Africa.