October 19 – With little over a month to go before the World Cup, several nations are being forced to revise their plans, with a number of key players ruled out by injury.
England, France and Portugal are among those hit as the 32 nations put the finishing touches to their squad announcements.
Reece James, England’s first-choice right back, is facing four weeks in a brace following a knee injury while Portugal have lost forward Diogo Jota and France will be without N’Golo Kante.
Jota suffered a serious calf injury and was stretchered off in the closing stages of Liverpool’s 1-0 Premier League win over Manchester City on Sunday.
“After such a good night at Anfield mine ended in the worst way! In the last minute one of my dreams collapsed,” Jota posted on Twitter.
Kante will miss France’s defence of the World Cup after Chelsea said the midfielder will be out of action for four months following surgery on a hamstring injury. France will also be without Boubacar Kamara who has torn knee ligaments.
The Netherlands will be without Georginio Wijnaldum while Argentina will have to cope without striker Paulo Dybala who picked up a freak thigh injury while taking a penalty for Roma in October.
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