wherein DF travels to Deutschland for the 2006 world cup to follow the US men's national soccer team

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Injuries and the USMNT

Early reports are that Claudio Reyna left today's Man City-Wigan game in the 66th minute with an injury. As of now, I have no more info, though of course I'm hoping it's minor. But this reminds me that it seems like our top players are unusually injury prone:

  • JOB, nuff sed
  • Reyna, ditto
  • Josh Wolff's troubles were summed up nicely in a ThreeSixOne joke headline, "Josh Wolff injures self talking about latest injury"
  • McBride, until the last couple years seemed like he was always injured
  • DMB was out for part of 2005 with that nasty knee injury (though he bounced back well)
  • Gibbs is only just coming back from an injury he suffered almost a year ago
  • Dolo got that nasty injury in the gold cup quarters against Jamaica (though he too bounced right back)
  • Eddie Johnson was out with turf toe for the better part of 2005
  • Lots of guys who were in the US camp earlier this year have suffered injuries of varying seriousness (Noonan, LD, Dunivant)

I know injuries are part of the game, but it certainly seems to me that we have more than our share. I can't say for sure whether this is true, since I don't follow any other NT that closely. But if it is, what could explain it? Bad luck? The lower qualify of opposition in Concacaf, where opponents are likely to resort to fouls because they can't beat us fair and square? Anti-Americanism? I got nothin'.

3 Comments:

Blogger DF said...

Followup: it looks like Reyna came off because he fell awkwardly on his shoulder, so it's unlikely that the injury is that serious. Relief.

http://home.skysports.com/matchreport.asp?fxid=278897&cpid=8

2:12 PM, March 18, 2006

 
Blogger DF said...

And to follow good news with bad, here's a news item about McBride, who's been battling a groin problem and will likely need surgery in the post-season.

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=372132&CPID=8&clid=&lid=2&title=Heidar+worry+for+Fulham

Not clear how this affects his WC prospects. But the MNT without Reyna and McBride would be a scary thought.

3:30 PM, March 18, 2006

 
Blogger DF said...

And to continue the yo-yo of good news and bad, the original concern about McBridge appears misplaced. He has been carrying a groin injury, but it's improving. It's Helgusson (a Fulham teammate) not Brian who will require surgery:

http://www.fulhamweb.com/fulhamweb/news/result.asp?article_id=5108

Relief, redux.

4:32 PM, March 18, 2006

 

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