The FIFA Virus Strikes Again: Calls for Relief Grow as Player Injuries Mount

“It’s a losing battle unless the players stand up and say ‘let’s not play.’ The rest is a lost battle, there is nothing to do. They make you go to Asia, the United States, very strong matches, derbies, big matches. People fall and will continue to fall because ‘show must go on’”, said Pep Guardiola, this summer, in the preview of the European Super Cup against Sevilla. A cry into the air from the Spanish coach asking for respite from a load of games that is increasingly suffocating. He has not been the only one who has been critical of the suffocating calendar and the subsequent physical problems of the footballers.

“The calendar limit has been exceeded. It never stops because LaLiga, the Federation, FIFA and UEFA want to do their thing, but we have to stop for a moment and think about the players. If they get tired, we will close here…”, Carlo Ancelotti also stated last February. Now, the famous ‘FIFA virus’ has made an appearance again during the national team break, agreeing with those who called for help in the face of the exponential growth of matches in recent times. An all-out war between the highest body in world football and FIFPro (international football players’ union) that has claimed new victims.

In the Spanish National Team, Dani Olmo and Marco Asensio had to be replaced before the break, both with muscle problems. The Leipzig footballer with a blow to the knee, and the PSG player to the foot. The two players from Luis de la Fuente’s team will be examined upon their arrival in the capital of Spain to find out the extent of their injuries, although their presence, in the match that La Roja will face on Tuesday in Granada against Cyprus, is up in the air. . Two important setbacks for Marco Rose and Luis Enrique in this league start that they now see as two of their capital players and who had started the season at a high level could go through the infirmary.

The man from Terrassa renewed his contract with the German club this summer until 2027 and in this first part of the season, together with Xavi Simons, he is the leader of Leipzig. Thanks to his hat-trick, the ‘bulls’ won the German Super Cup at the hands of Bayern Munich, while in the Bundesliga he has two goals and one assist in the first three league games. The alarms have also gone off in Paris, where Marco Asensio’s adaptation has been optimal. Led by Luis Enrique, the Spaniard has restored the Asturian coach’s confidence through great performances. He has two goals and an assist in his first three games in Ligue 1 and is destined to be one of the key players in PSG’s season.

Germany and France have not been the only major victims of the ‘FIFA virus’, as both England and Italy have also suffered it first hand. Manchester City seems to have had a one-eyed look at this start of the season and, in addition to the long-term injuries to Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, that of Nathan Aké is now added. The 28-year-old full-back had to be substituted at half-time in the Netherlands’ victory over Greece due to hamstring problems. “We replaced him because we didn’t want to take any risks with him,” Koeman said at a press conference. A new obstacle that Pep Guardiola will have to face.

Olivier Giroud also had to leave of his own volition last Thursday in the match between France and Northern Ireland. The top scorer in the history of the ‘blues’ asked for a change before the opening half hour due to some discomfort in his ankle and his presence in the duel against Germany next Tuesday is ruled out. “The healing period is too short for him to be able to play on Tuesday in Dortmund,” the French federation reported. A hard setback for Milan, as the 36-year-old striker was one of the big names in Serie A. His four goals and one assist in the first three games have helped the Rossoneri remain undefeated in the league together to Inter Milan. Four examples in the form of injuries during the national team break that demonstrate Guardiola’s theory and many others. Stop or fall.

2023-09-10 15:24:16
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