BRAZIL’s World Cup dreams are hanging by a thread after their star man suffered a crippling injury.
With Neymar fracturing his foot, Brazilians around the world collectively gasped at the news filtering out from Paris.
They’re hopeful that he will be fit, but it doesn’t always work out when they get there.
We recall three moments where teams’ star players suffered a massive blow to their international tournament chances.
And who can forget when we all had to pray for David Beckham and his broken metatarsal…
Alfredo di Stefano – 1962 World Cup
It’s criminal that di Stefano never played in a World Cup.
And it wasn’t through strength of trying, he represented three countries in his career, Argentina, Colombia and Spain.
In 1950 and 1954, Argentina refused to participate in either tournaments.
By then, the Real Madrid legend gained Spanish citizenship but their national team failed to qualify in 1958.
Then, in 1962, he picked up an injury in a warm-up game before the tournament and had to withdraw.
Kevin Keegan – 1982 World Cup
Although he wasn’t getting any younger, he was 31-years-old at this time, he was still an important player for the national team.
So it was a disaster when our favourite perm-haired footballer went into the 1982 World Cup nursing a back injury.
He was still named the team’s captain despite carrying the knock, but didn’t appear until the final group game against Spain.
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With time ticking on, Keegan was introduced as a second half sub with the score deadlocked at 0-0.
He had a chance to become a hero late on, but missed the goal with a glancing header and England crashed out.
Zico – 1986 World Cup
Brazil have been here before, of course.
Back in 1986 a serious knee injury to Zico, which required an operation, threatened his World Cup dreams.
He played through the pain barrier, appearing somewhat close to his best in short second half sub stints, starting in game three.
One defence-splitting pass against France in the quarter final showed his class which led to a penalty.
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However, an unfit Zico missed the resulting spot-kick, which was saved by French keeper Joel Bats.
He’d only ever missed two penalties in his life before that.
Marco Van Basten – 1994 World Cup
At the time he was recognised as the best striker in the world, so this was a cruel blow for the Netherlands.
The Dutchman had been in blistering form for AC Milan a season before, but a knee injury had sidelined him.
He underwent countless operations to save his career, not just his World Cup chances.
He officially hung up his boots at the age of 30 in 1995.
Romario – 1998 World Cup
Whether this was a fallout with coach Mario Zagallo or he was genuinely injured, we’ll never know.
But Brazil’s most revered poacher didn’t make the World Cup in 1998, and the responsibility was all Zagallo’s.
He claimed that the reason he left Romario at home on the eve of the tournament was because of a muscular injury.
However, Romario declared himself fit, saying the “stress knock” was only minor in an emotional press conference.
The pair were at loggerheads before that and Romario stayed in Brazil.
Emerson – 2002 World Cup
Brazil’s key defensive midfielder and a linchpin for Roma that season, Emerson got injured in bizarre circumstances.
And considering he was going to be their captain for the tournament, it makes his injury seem more ridiculous.
Right before the first match, Emerson managed to dislocate his shoulder and had to withdraw from the squad.
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What made his withdrawal even more ridiculous was the fact he got hurt while playing in goal during a training session.
He also missed out on a World Cup winners medal, with Brazil going on to lift the trophy. How’s your luck?
David Beckham – 2002 World Cup
In April 2002, Becks was sent flying by a reckless tackle from Aldo Duscher in a Champions League match for Man United.
When he was stretchered off in tears just months before the World Cup it seemed devastating for club and country.
An x-ray showed that he had broken a metatarsal, which he would need a maximum eight weeks to recover from.
Miraculously, Becks made it for the first game but was lethargic in the opener against Sweden in a 1-1 draw.
However, he was the hero in the second game smashing home a penalty against Argentina for a 1-0 win.
After a convincing last-16 win against Denmark, England crashed out to Brazil in a 2-1 loss. But Becks had done us proud.
Wayne Rooney – 2006 World Cup
Six weeks before England’s opener against Paraguay, Rooney was devastated when he fractured his metatarsal.
He was playing against Chelsea, and in what was an innocuous challenge from Paulo Ferreira, was left clutching his foot on the turf.
His World Cup chances were doubtful, it was initially said he’d miss the entire group stages.
He did miss the opener, but was introduced as a second half sub against Trinidad in the second game.
Rooney then started against Sweden in a 2-2 draw, but definitely looked rusty.
His tournament was best remembered though for getting sent off against Portugal and being winked at by Cristiano Ronaldo.
He ended the tournament with no goals and looked short of his best.
Could that be the same for Neymar at the 2018 World Cup?
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