Germany, Spain, Brazil, England Face Tough Task in Russia World Cup

With a month for 2018 Russia World Cup to kick off, team managers now have to reshuffle their rosters due to pre-cup injuries for some players in their league games.

World Cup all-time favorites, Brazil, Germany, Spain and England each are dealing with one or more of their players out of the tournament following severe injuries, Goal reported.

Among all, Germany seemingly is dealing with tougher challenges due to three of its main players out of the tournament or still in a shady state of recovery.

Mesut Ozil has joined the list of Germany stars currently injured, but the Arsenal midfielder insisted Monday he will be fit for the World Cup title defense in Russia.

A key member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning squad Manuel Neuer has had a season to forget thanks to successive injuries curtailing his involvement for Bayern Munich.

The 32-year-old has returned to light training after fracturing his metatarsal. Germany’s head coach Joachim Low has indicated that Neuer is still in his plans for the tournament but, after missing so many games, as well as the ready form of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, he may not necessarily be number one.

Germany could well be forced into a defensive reshuffle following the news of Jerome Boateng’s thigh injury, which has brought his season to a premature end. The Bayern Munich center-back is expected to be out of action for between four and six weeks, which means that his involvement in his country’s World Cup defense is in severe doubt.

Spain boss Julen Lopetegui, meanwhile, will have a decision to make over whether or not to bring the likes of Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata, who has been struggling with persistent back and thigh problems this season.

Brazil is one of the favorite teams to win the tournament, but it will have to make do without marauding full-back Dani Alves, who picked up a knee injury during the Coupe de France final and will instead spend the summer recovering ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s 2018-19 campaign.

England will definitely have to make do without the services of Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who suffered a knee ligament injury in the Reds’ Champions League semifinal first leg victory over Roma. The former Arsenal star sustained the injury while making a tackle and it comes as a major blow to both the player and Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.