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The injured XI: the crocked stars you won't be seeing on the pitch in Brazil this month

Wish you were here!

THE WORLD CUP is a showcase for football’s best talent. But every four years there’s those who miss out through injury. 

Victor Valdes

Spain 

An anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in March means the Barcelona shot-stopper will have to watch the football from home rather than the Spainish subs’ bench.

Spain Soccer La Liga AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Silvio

Portugal

The Benfica full-back suffered an horrific break to both the fibula and tibia during a win over AZ Alkmaar during the Portuguese side’s successful Europa League run.

Portugal Soccer AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Holger Badstuber

Germany

The highly-rated Bayern Munich defender hasn’t played since 2012 but is almost recovered from a cruciate ligament injury.

Germany Soccer Bayern Munich AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Jetro Willems

Holland

Holland have been badly hit by injuries with the 20-year old PSV man out with a knee injury.

Netherlands Soccer Europa League Peter Dejong Peter Dejong

Rafael van der Vaart

Holland

The former Spurs playmaker was only ruled out of Louis van Gaal’s travelling squad last week. Van der Vaart failed to recover from a calf strain.

Germany Soccer Bundesliga AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Kevin Strootman

Netherlands

Newly-installed Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admitted that his side’s ‘dreams have died’ after the Roma midfielder hurt his leg.

Italy Soccer Serie A Kaka, right, is tackled by AS Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Nico Kranjcar

Croatia 

The 29-year-old QPR midfielder carried a leg injury into the Championship playoff final against Derby at Wembley last week but decided in the dressingroom afterwards that he wasn’t fit to take his place in Brazil.

Theo Walcott

England

A cruciate ligament injury in the FA Cup win over Tottenham, below, ruled the Gunners’ speed merchant out of the trip to South America.

Soccer - FA Cup Final Preview Package heo Walcott taunts Tottenham Hotspur fans as he was carried off injured. Adam Davy Adam Davy

Robbie Kruse

Australia

Strewth! Kruse was one of the Socceroos’ top performers in qualifying but tore knee ligaments some months ago.

Australia Costa Rica Soccer Rick Rycroft Rick Rycroft

Christian Benteke

Belgium

Belgium are many neutral’s favourites but they’ll have to do without ‘Bentekkers’ this time around.

Soccer - International Friendly - Belgium v Ivory Coast - King Baudouin Stadium Belgium's Marouane Fellaini and Christian Benteke. Press Association Images Press Association Images

Jay Rodriguez

England

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Southampton - Etihad Stadium PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

One of a talented batch of young English players at St Mary’s, the Southampton playmaker enjoyed a great season with the Saints, but he suffered a bad knee injury in April. Unlucky, son.

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