The 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar is now less than three weeks away, with the host nation’s clash against Ecuador set to kick the tournament off on Sunday 20 November.
There will only be a week between the final club fixtures players will participate in and the beginning of the tournament, the first edition of the World Cup to be held in the Middle East, meaning any players who suffer a late injury are liable to miss out on competing in Qatar.
With managers set to begin announcing their squad selections within the next week ahead of the deadline on 14 November, some stars who have already suffered injuries are facing a race to be fit in time for the start of the tournament.
i has taken a look at the chances of some key players who are desperately trying to regain fitness in time for the start of the competition.
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South Korea star Son Heung-min suffered a fractured eye socket in the first-half of the crucial 2-1 win away at Marseille in the final round of Champions League fixtures on Tuesday night, and is set to require surgery in order to rectify the problem.
A statement issued by the club on Wednesday evening read: “We can confirm that Son will undergo surgery to stabilise a fracture around his left eye. Following surgery, Son will commence rehabilitation with our medical staff and we shall update supporters further in due course.”
The 30-year-old is the talisman in a South Korea squad which is mainly composed of domestic-based players, and will be sorely missed if he has not recovered in time for the tournament, leaving the goalscoring burden on the shoulders of Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan and leadership responsibility with Napoli defender Kim Min-jae.
Even if Son isn’t fit for the start of the tournament, his star power means he will likely be selected by manager Paulo Bento even if there is a chance he is able to play on the final game of the group stage.
2022 World Cup group stage draw
- Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
- Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
- Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
- Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
- Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Ben Chilwell – England
Another player who had to be substituted due to injury in this week’s Champions League fixtures was Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, who suffered a hamstring injury in the 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb.
“I think you’d have to say so,” said manager Graham Potter when asked if Chilwell’s chances of playing in the World Cup for England were in doubt. “Obviously I don’t want to say any more than that but when a player pulls up like he did, and he felt it, so it’s never positive.”
Chilwell was likely to be Gareth Southgate’s back-up choice at left wing-back behind Luke Shaw. If he is unavailable for selection, the likes of Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon and Crystal palace’s Tyrick Mitchell could be in line for an unexpected call-up.
2022 World Cup schedule
- Group stage: 20 November – 2 December
- Round-of-16: 3-6 December
- Quarter-finals: 9-10 December
- Semi-finals: 13-14 December
- Third-place play-off: 17 December
- Final: 18 December
Reece James – England
On the opposite flank for Chelsea is Reece James, and the right wing-back looks very unlikely to be fit in time for the World Cup after suffering a knee injury last month against AC Milan.
The club revealed in a statement released on Monday that James is recovering his rehabilitation in Dubai and he tried to recuperate for the tournament in neighbouring Qatar, but Potter’s comments suggest the 22-year-old will end up disappointed.
“He’ll be in a brace for four weeks to stabilise the knee, then it’s rehab that will take eight weeks, we think,” his club manager said on 21 October. That timescale runs well into December and possibly the new year as things stand.
A James absence would increase Trent Alexander-Arnold’s chances of being selected as likely understudy to Kieran Trippier.
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Another England right-back who could miss out on a place in Southgate’s squad is Kyle Walker, who underwent groin surgery after suffering an injury in Manchester City’s 6-3 victory over Manchester United early in October.
“Kyle, I’m impressed how quick his recovery is”, said Pep Guardiola in a recent press conference, with the Spaniard adding that he believes the 32-year-old could well be recovered in time for the tournament. If fully fit Walker is pretty much a guaranteed starter for England, but won’t have played in almost two months before the Three Lions’ opening fixture against Iran.
Kalvin Phillips – England
Walker’s Manchester City team-mate Kalvin Phillips is also nearing a return from injury, and could be fit in time to secure a spot on the plane to Qatar.
The 26-year-old has not played since mid-September due to a shoulder injury, a recurrence of a problem he suffered with previous club Leeds United before making the move to Manchester this summer. Guardiola, though, believes Phillips could be ready in time for the World Cup.
“He’s doing partial training session with the team, not contact yet,” Guardiola said. “We’ll see his evolution. I know how important is the World Cup but I don’t use a player I don’t think is ready. My feeling now is it will be tight [to make the World Cup]. There are many things involved.”
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Romelu Lukaku – Belgium
Inter striker Romelu Lukaku has scored a whopping 68 goals in 102 appearances for Belgium, and has already played in two World Cups for his tournament, but could miss out this around after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury.
The on-loan Chelsea man had only just returned from a two-month spell on the sidelines, but is now a doubt once again after his setback.
“It is not yet a line through the issue, but it is a setback for the player himself, his club and [us]”, said Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, who could change his system if Lukaku has not recovered in time.
“At the Red Devils, he is irreplaceable,” Martinez told Nieuwsblad. “Every national team has irreplaceable players. Look at Argentina with Messi, Croatia with Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic, Spain and Germany also have such players. That’s just how it works. With us it’s Courtois, De Bruyne and Lukaku. You cannot replace them one on one. If they don’t play, we have to play in a different way. If Lukaku is not there, maybe we should play with more attackers.”
2022 World Cup winner odds
- Brazil – 5-1
- France – 6-1
- England – 7-1
- Argentina – 7-1
- Spain – 8-1
- Germany – 10-1
- Portugal – 12-1
- Netherland – 12-1
- Belgium – 14-1
- Denmark – 28-1
Raphael Varane – France
Raphael Varane starred at centre-back alongside Samuel Umtiti as France won the World Cup in Russia four years ago, but suffered a significant blow in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October as he left in the pitch in tears following a thigh muscle tear.
Recent reports have suggested the defender’s injury is less severe than first feared, though, and he posted a positive update to Instagram last weekend, saying: “Thank you everyone for the kind messages this week. I have been working! Feeling good. Good luck today boys!”
Confirmed absentees
Other players are already confirmed to be missing the tournament entirely, including France duo Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who formed the midfield pivot which led France to glory in 2018 but will be unable to make a contribution this time around.
Portugal will be without both Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and Wolves winger Pedro Neto, meanwhile, and Brighton’s Jakub Moder will be missing for Poland.
For the Netherlands, Georginio Wijnaldum will be absent, while Miles Robinson of the USA and Jesus Corona of Mexico are also out.
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