Dutchie Arjen Robben is the latest star to suffer a pre-World Cup injury blow. His status is in doubt after a hamstring twitch in the second half of a 6-1 win over Hungary. Robben scored twice as a second-half sub but was still on the pitch in the 85th when the incident occurred. The severity isn’t known pending a scan tomorrow. In statement on the KNVB website manager Bert van Marwijk said: “I would rather lose this match and have Arjen stay fit. He felt a sharp pain. That does not bode well. But I do not lose hope.”
Jon Obi Mikel is also out now for Nigeria.
There’s a bit of a theme running through the major pre-tournament injuries. Ballack, Drogba, Mikel, Jose Bosingwa, and now Robben are all (or in the last case ‘were’) Spartak London players. We’re picking Nicolas Anelka and Cashley Cole as the next to go down to the curse of the Brambino. Speaking of Drogba, his surgery was successful, which best we can tell simply means he didn’t die on the operating table. So there’s that.
Also, Martin Skrtel went out for Slovakia with a hurt ankle. UPDATE: Skrtel expects to be ok for the opener after scans revealed no significant damage.
UPDATE: Two more injuries from today. Wilson Palacios was stretchered off the field today and taken to the hospital for further examination on a shin injury. Tim Cahill also suffered a slight neck injury during the friendly agains the USA today. He is expected to be fine by the first match.
Christ
@Tno: He recovered from his injury from what I hear.
@TFA
Nice
there is still hope. we wont need robben until the quarter finals anyway
As long as they get hurt now and not during the tournament they’ll be fit in time to repeat.