The Best XI from Players Injured During the International Window
The international break is taking its toll.
A string of injuries from matches played over the past few days has fans—especially in Manchester and Turin—worried for the well-being of some of their stars.
We've taken a look at the casualties and picked out a starting XI of players injured during this international period.
Selected in a 3-4-3 formation, the extent of the injuries ranges from slight niggle to season-ending. And it's not a bad side, either.
But stay tuned: There's still one matchday left, and this list could grow.
GK: Tim Krul (Newcastle United/Netherlands)
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Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul will miss the rest of the season after tearing an ACL in the Netherlands' win over Kazakhstan on Saturday.
On Sunday, the 27-year-old posted a message on Twitter to fans of the bottom-placed Premier League club: “I’m devastated I can’t play a part on the pitch to help the team turn the season around. I still believe this club can and should be up there with the top teams."
DEF: Fabio Coentrao (Monaco/Portugal)
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It remains unclear how long Fabio Coentrao will be out, with the on-loan Monaco man sent home from Portugal duty with an "unspecified injury" he picked up against Denmark, reported by ESPN FC.
It's bad news for the defender, who recently told Marca injuries spoiled his chances with Real Madrid (h/t Football Espana).
DEF: David Luiz (PSG/Brazil)
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Paris Saint-Germain centre-back David Luiz looks set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring his knee while playing for Brazil against Chile on Thursday.
Get French Football News relayed claims in Le Parisien that David Luiz will be out of action for four weeks.
The Brazilian has been a key part of PSG's rampant start to the season in Ligue 1, as recently reported by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson.
DEF: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea/Serbia)
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Spare a thought for Jose Mourinho.
Despite the Serbia full-back’s forgettable start to the Premier League season, the Chelsea manager can hardly do with him on the sidelines.
Ivanovic went off with a hamstring problem in the second half of Serbia’s 2-0 win over Albania on Thursday night, according to the Mirror.
It looks like his absence might force the hand of the Special One.
MID: Luka Modric (Real Madrid/Croatia)
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Playmaker Luka Modric only lasted the first half of Croatia's 3-0 win over Bulgaria because of an injury concern, FourFourTwo reported.
His club, Real Madrid, will be monitoring his status closely, with national manager Ante Cacic confirming the injury.
"Luka Modric felt pain in his adductor, so we didn't want to risk anything," Cacic told reporters. "That is why I substituted him at half-time."
MID: Paul Pogba (Juventus/France)
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Breathe, Juventus fans.
Paul Pogba could miss Juve's match against Inter on Sunday after withdrawing from the French squad with a sprained ankle, per Goal.
Pogba was the first of three injury concerns for the Old Lady during the international break, with Roberto Pereyra and Alvaro Morata also picking up knocks.
MID: Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich/Germany)
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Mario Gotze was substituted early during Germany's 1-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night, and the German FA has confirmed the 2014 World Cup final goalscorer will miss 10 to 12 weeks of action for club and country, as reported in the Guardian.
The Bayern Munich man will miss a fair chunk of the Bundesliga season, as well as two crunch Champions League games against Arsenal.
MID: David Silva (Manchester City/Spain)
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The first of two downers for Manchester City fans, with David Silva failing to make it through Spain's qualifier with Luxembourg on Friday.
Silva has been a key feature of the Premier League leaders' play this season and will miss two to three weeks of action, according to the Mail on Sunday.
The injury could rule the playmaker out of City's Champions League match against Sevilla and the derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
FW: Alvaro Morata (Juventus/Spain)
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Good and bad news for Juventus fans, as Alvaro Morata's injury is not quite as severe as it first looked.
The club's official website revealed that Morata, who was also injured in Spain's 4-0 win over Luxembourg, suffered a bone bruise but no fracture, as was initially feared.
He could miss Sunday's Serie A game against Inter, but a complete timeline for his return remains unclear, per AS.
FW: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/France)
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The leading scorer in La Liga this season, Karim Benzema is set to miss three weeks of game time after suffering a muscle injury during France's 4-0 friendly win over Armenia on Thursday, per Real Madrid's official website (h/t ESPN FC).
Benzema has been in red-hot form for Real this season and will be a key part of France manager Didier Deschamps' plans heading into Euro 2016 on home soil.
Still, though, it's not as if club manager Rafa Benitez is short of attacking options.
FW: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/Argentina)
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The one that will sting for Manchester City fans.
Sergio Aguero came off with a hamstring injury in the first half of Argentina's 2-0 defeat against Ecuador.
BBC Sport reported he is expected to be unavailable for a month, which would rule him out of City's next Champions League match and the Manchester derby on October 25.
He had been in excellent form, scoring a rapid-fire five goals against Newcastle United in his last Premier League outing.
