The Qatar 2022 World Cup is around the corner to start 20th of November 2022 with a unique winter build-up which means many of the world’s top stars playing club football right up until a week before the tournament starts. The likes of England and France have some major injury crises in their defensive line.
This article will try to examine the number of countries playing in the World Cup and how many injuries they have in their team. We will talk about the different places that will miss the World Cup because of injury and how it will affect the team.
France Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
The first on our list is the defending champions France. The head coach of France Didier Deschamps has arguably the largest injury list. They have a frighteningly strong squad but the injury list threatens their chances of retaining the trophy.
The first player on their list is N’Golo Kante: The defensive midfielder will miss the World Cup following Surgery to correct a hamstring problem. The other player is Paul Pogba: The former Manchester United player may later be called as he has resumed training but he just had knee surgery which could be a problem.
Wesley Fofana is another player who may miss the World Cup due to injury. He limped off during the 3-0 Champions League home win over AC Milan and is unlikely to make a return before the World Cup. Also, Lucas Hernandez who plays for Bayern Munich as a utility man injured his groin in a Champions League victory over Barcelona last month, although his agent has claimed he will return before the end of October.
The next player is Boubacar Kamara: The 22-year-old tore knee ligaments just eight matches into his Aston Villa career and will be out until after the World Cup. Raphael Varane of Manchester United may also be out of this year’s World Cup as he was in tears when was been taken out of their 1-1 draw at Chelsea after suffering a leg injury.
England Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Our next country is England, a few thought the right-back position would be an area of concern for Southgate, especially given the plethora of options he’s historically had at his disposal. However, that has all changed in recent times.
Chelsea’s Reece James had a knee injury which he picked up against AC Milan and so he is a major doubt for this year’s tournament. Another player is Kyle Walker, the Manchester City defender who was left with six weeks to recover his fitness after groin surgery but says he is “confident” of making the World Cup squad.
John Stones and Harry Maguire: Manchester City’s Stones and Manchester United’s Maguire have both not played since suffering hamstring injuries the two returned recently but we don’t know for sure if they will be fit enough to play in the World Cup.
Kalvin Phillips of Manchester City midfielder is a major doubt after a dislocated shoulder suffered in September. Kyle Walker-Peters of Southampton is also a doubt for the World Cup as he has a hamstring injury.
Brazil Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
One of the favourites to win this year’s World Cup is Brazil but with the recent injury scare many may want to think again. Tottenham star player Richarlison is likely to compete but it is not certain if the coach will risk that.
The Tottenham forward was seen on crutches after suffering a calf injury during their 2-0 win over Everton on 15 October, but Tottenham boss Antonio Conte says the Brazilian forward will be fit for the tournament but we are not sure.
The player also added on Twitter saying: “Guys, thank God it was just a big scare!! Two weeks and I’ll be back! Thank you for the messages and affection.” Arthur Melo is also doubtful as he wrote on social media, saying he expects a thigh injury to keep him out of contention for a place on the plane to Qatar.
Portugal Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Manager Fernando Santos could be deprived of the services of four important players for their Group H campaign against Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay. Diogo Jota: The Liverpool forward will miss the World Cup after he was taken off on a stretcher with a thigh injury in added time of their 1-0 Premier League win over Manchester City on 18 October.
Pedro Neto: Wolves said the 22-year-old striker will miss the tournament after an ankle injury sustained against West Ham on 1 October left him requiring surgery. Pepe and Nuno Mendes: Porto expects 39-year-old Pepe to miss several games with a sprained knee, while fellow defender Mendes will be out for a few weeks with a muscle issue.
Germany Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
The Germans’ main worries centre around a Die Mannschaft stalwart with 48 caps and 15 international goals to his name and a Bayern Munich forward in good form. Marco Reus: The 33-year-old Borussia Dortmund skipper damaged ankle ligaments in September. An ankle injury also kept him out of Germany’s World Cup triumph in Brazil in 2014.
Leroy Sane: The 26-year-old tore his left thigh muscle during Bayern Munich’s 5-0 win over Freiburg on Sunday. The club has not given a timeframe for Sane’s recovery, only saying they will be without the forward “for the time being.”
Wales Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Gareth Bale should be fit to lead Wales’ first World Cup campaign in 64 years despite appearing sparingly for Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC. Tom Lawrence: The Dragons will probably be without the Rangers forward in the Gulf state after he aggravated a knee injury that could sideline him until December.
Joe Allen: The veteran midfielder has not played for Swansea in more than a month after going down with a hamstring problem. Tom Lawrence has scored three goals in 23 international caps for Wales
Netherlands Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
The Netherlands, a potential last-16 opponent for England or Wales, will also be missing an experienced international operator. Georginio Wijnaldum: The 31-year-old former Liverpool midfielder, capped 86 times, suffered a fractured tibia in his right leg after just playing one game on loan at Roma. Georginio Wijnaldum was part of the Netherlands squad that finished in third place at the 2014 World Cup
Argentina Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
The 2014 runners-up will also have to cope without a Roma man. Paulo Dybala: The 28-year-old will miss the competition after picking up a freak thigh injury while taking a penalty for Jose Mourinho’s side in Serie A in early October.
Angel Di Maria: The former Manchester United winger also suffered a thigh injury on Champions League duty for Juventus last week and will be out for three weeks, leaving him in a race against time to be fit.
United States Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
The US, Group B opponents of England and Wales, have two key injuries at either end of the pitch. Daryl Dike: The West Bromwich Albion striker has been out with a thigh issue since August and it is still unknown whether he will return before the November break. Miles Robinson: An Achilles tendon tear has ruled out the Atlanta United centre-back.
Mexico Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Boss Gerardo Martino has huge concerns over two of his top stars but says he will give both until the very last minute to prove their fitness.
Raul Jimenez: The Wolves forward has not played since 31 August due to a groin injury and is a huge doubt for the tournament. Jesus Corona: The Sevilla winger broke his leg in August but is recovering ahead of schedule.
Croatia Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Marcelo Brozovic: The Inter Milan midfielder has not played in almost a month after coming off with a thigh injury during Croatia’s Nations League win over Austria in September.
Uruguay Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Ronald Araujo: Barcelona stated in September the defender would likely miss the tournament due to surgery on a torn thigh muscle that would keep him out for two to three months.
Poland Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Jakub Moder: The Brighton midfielder will not feature for the Poles in Qatar after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in April.
Canada Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Atiba Hutchinson: The Canada captain, 39, has not played at all this term for his club side, Turkish outfit, Besiktas, after suffering a bone bruise in pre-season.
Morocco Qatar 2022 World Cup Injury List
Imran Louza: Watford midfielder Louza, 23, will miss the tournament after breaking his leg against Millwall in mid-October.