Last night just shows how hard it can be to read this wonderful game of ours!
There I was, yesterday, predicting that there was no chance of Sven risking Joe Cole in the friendly against Belarus but there was every likelihood that Wayne Bridge would be given a run out only to get it totally wrong.
In fact, it was Joe who came on as a substitute whilst Wayne languished on the bench. Thankfully, despite a few lunging tackles, Joe came through unscathed and can look forward to Germany 2006.
However, the same cannot be said of the unfortunate Robert Green. The Norwich City keeper was carried off on a stretcher after rupturing a groin a mere five minutes after replacing David James in goal. With the severity of the pain he was in etched all over his face, it was obvious that the keeper will not be participating in the World Cup.
His injury just goes to highlight the fragile balance between euphoria and heartache in the world of football. From anticipating being involved in the World Cup, the unfortunate keeper now faces a race against time to be fit for next season.
What will probably make it even harder to bear is the fact that the injury came in an almost meaningless friendly, however, such games are necessary on the eve of a major tournament. After a lengthy season in which players pick up injuries and become jaded as well as losing form, Sven needs to be certain when it comes to formulating his starting eleven for the opening match in Germany.
Injuries can, as we all know, come at any time. The human body for all its magnificent accolades can fail at any moment, a swift unanticipated movement tears tissue in unfortunate places. All we can do is hope that in the remaining two fixtures scheduled to be played before the squad departs for Germany that nobody else is forced to suffer the heartache Robert Green experienced last night.
Robert Green our thoughts are with you please accept our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
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