The FIFA World Cup – A spectacle that stops the world in its tracks. Few have played on the biggest stage. Even fewer have dazzled and lifted that hallowed trophy. This year is probably the time when we see the best in the last two generations clashing in the heat and humidity of Brazil. But these days, with players forced to go through nearly sixty games a season for club and country, the strain is telling. Many of the tournament’s brightest stars are to be absent from the showpiece event, their chance to dazzle and leave billions in awe thwarted for another four years at least.
Perhaps the biggest loss to this year’s event will be the absence of Radamel Falcao. The Columbian striker has scored for fun in the last four seasons and is a penalty box poacher unmatched. However, he won’t be taking to the field in Brazil this year thanks to an injury suffered during a cup tie for AS Monaco. If a country’s hopes of World Cup glory ever rested on one man alone, it would be Falcao.
The same, of course, could be said of Franck Ribery. The wily French winger has wowed the world in his displays for Bayern Munich and was essential to France making it to the event via a play-off victory. However, once more – club duties mean he is not fit to make the biggest stage itself and help inspire France. Another Bayern player – Thiago Alcantara has been ruled out for Spain after suffering a knee injury. One of the brightest midfield talents in the world, Thiago has been robbed of a chance to show Barcelona the folly they committed by letting him go. Joining them on the treatment table in Bavaria is long-term absentee Holger Badstuber who has taken nearly two years to recover from his ACL tear. The German international has not played a game in this time and would have been hard-pressed to be picked by Joachim Low, but is a versatile member of any squad.