Group-E - WC 2014

[xudong]

Ribery out of World Cup?

you just knew? that's old news already. :d

[ZvonimirBoban]

Ribery out of World Cup?

you just knew? that's old news already. :d

Yeah. Don't know why I missed that one. Why? Injury?

[xudong]

Franck Ribery reveals he rejected cortisone injection from France medical staff before World Cup 2014 because 'it's not good' for his long-term fitness


-Ribery was offered an injection to try and play some part in Brazil
-Bayern Munich winger withdraw from France squad due to back injury
-He says he rejected it because he knew it was not good for his fitness
-The 31-year-old was responding to claims he was scared of needles

Franck Ribery has revealed that he rejected a cortisone injection from French medical staff before the World Cup because he knew it was 'not good' for his long-term fitness.

The 31-year-old winger was forced to withdraw from France's 23-man squad after failing to recover from a back injury in time to play in Brazil.

His absence from the squad has caused a major selection headache for coach Didier Deschamps whose side had been built around Ribery.

And Ribery has revealed that French medical staff suggested a cortisone injection - which would provide powerful anti-inflammatory medication to his back - to his back could have allowed him to play a part in the tournament but he refused one.

Speaking to German news agency SID, the 80-cap international said: 'I'm not afraid of injections, but I didn't want to have a cortisone injection from the French doctor.
'I know it's not good (for my long-term health).'

The Bayern Munich star's comments were made in response to French national team doctor Kevin Le Gall's comments claiming that Ribery had not been offered any injections because he was afraid of needles.

Le Gall said: 'Franck belongs to a club (Bayern) whose method of treatment for all ailments, whatever they might be, is based on injections.'

Ribery, who has netted 16 times for France, leaves Les Bleus with only one player in their squad - Karim Benzema - who has scored more than 10 international goals.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcu...Eheadlines

[xudong]

There is still no draw so far in the tournament, thanks to the last-second goal by Seferovic. Poor Ecuador, they could have turned their 1 point into 3, but 30 seconds later, it became 0.

[GeoTav]

I thought the LW of Ecuador was quite interesting to watch ... Good dribbles, good skills on the ball, fast running, regular threat, and running a lot, also to help the midfield to defend. Montero was his name I think ?

Anyway, overall, we've seen beautiful football in this WC, and the few sides trying to play a boring game (Spain and their 99% possession, Uruguay and Cameroun with no gameplan) lost against attacking minded teams playing a very vertical/direct game.

[xudong]

This tournament has been entertaining in general. At least three goals have been scored in each match so far (with the only exception Mexico 1-0 Cameroon, but Dos Santos had two good goals wrongly disallowed, so yea, it is 3-0 to me. ). I wonder if it has some to do with it being played on the land of Brazil.

The reason I said that was because that it reminded me of my first full WC experience in 1990 in Italy, and it still holds the record of lowest average goals scored per match (2.21). Maybe that has to do with the fact that it was played in Italy, the land of defense?

Just a crazy thought. :d

[xudong]

Benzama is on fire. 75 minutes now, he has 2.5 goals. (the second one would count as Honduran goalkeeper's own goal).

and the goal line technology was finally put into some serious use for the first time.

[Mystik]

Honduras' team was playing extremely physical...every tackle was a slide tackle :Facepalm:

[xudong]

Honduras' team was playing extremely physical...every tackle was a slide tackle :Facepalm:

that might be their only hope of winning (or getting a point), but with one man down, you already know that a big win is in place for France. palacios is such a reckless hot head.

[ACMILAN1983]

Ecuador - Switzerland was pretty much as expected as far as the result goes, though the Swiss struggled. The play on the second goal was manic though.

I really disliked Honduras, not only were they physical, but they made numerous dangerous tackles. I really hope the go out in shame as a result. On the flip side, France looked pretty good, as once they settled they looked very comfortable.