2010 FIFA World Cup: Massive Day as Injuries, Suspension Cost Four Stars
With less than seven days to go until the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Friday, June 4 has turned into a dark day for football as four stars are set to miss the World Cup due to the actions of today.
The four players that are now due to miss the World Cup are as followed:Humberto Suarzo (Chile), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) and Rio Ferdinand (England).
Starting off this tragic day was the news of Humberto Suarzo missing the World Cup due to suspension after Chilean newspaper El Mercurio announced that Suarzo has failed a drug test.
Supposedly, Suarzo was taking platelet injections, which have been proven to speed up the muscle healing process after sustaining an injury in a recent friendly against Israel.
However, according to WADA's (World Anti-Doping Agency) new laws, Suarzo could miss the World Cup if he has taken too much of the platelet injections.
Next up to potentially miss the World Cup is Italian 2006 World Cup hero Andrea Pirlo, as he sustained a calf injury in yesterday's friendly against Mexico.
Right now, Pirlo is at home and will travel with the Italian squad to South Africa as Italy's doctor's examine Pirlo.
After news of Pirlo's injury, a friendly between the Ivory Coast and Japan could prove to be a match that will hurt this World Cup, as Ivorian Didier Drogba went in for a challenge with Japanese defender Tulio Tanaka.
The result of that challenge saw Drogba come off in pain favoring his right arm, after which he went to a local hospital and has not spoken to reporters.
However, teammate Kolo Toure announced that Drogba told him his arm was broken and he would miss the World Cup.
And finally, England has suffered another casualty, as captain Rio Ferdinand was injured in training while defending against striker Emile Heskey.
After Ferdinand left the practice pitch, it was determined that he had ligament damage to his left knee and would miss four to six weeks, causing England's captain to miss the World Cup.
With this, England manager Fabio Capello has recalled Michael Dawson (who was just cut on Tuesday) for his final squad, and midfielder Steven Gerrard has now been named the captain of the Three Lions.
