Injuries are one of the biggest fears for players and managers – particularly when a World Cup is around the corner.
With the tournament only coming around once every four years, being fit at the right time is crucial for players hoping to guide their nation to ultimate glory.
Football can be a cruel game though and injuries can strike at the worst times with players denied a dream and teams left scrambling to fill their void as a result.
MORE: Complete schedule for the 2022 World Cup | World Cup prize money for Qatar
Can teams replace injured players on World Cup squads in Qatar?
FIFA have ruled that teams can replace players unable to compete due to injury or COVID-19 up to 24 hours before their first match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
This means sides have been given a greater chance to boast fully-fit squads for the tournament, with injuries possible of striking just before the tournament kicks off.
With the World Cup starting on November 20, club football was played until a week prior, meaning players could be, and were, injured lining up for their clubs right on the eve of the tournament.
A host of international friendlies acting as warmup games in the week of the tournament itself has also added a further complication.
FIFA’s ruling on replacing injured players therefore gave managers greater flexibility to name squads prior to club football pausing, knowing that even if a selected player is sidelined they can still be replaced.
As it stands, players injured during the 2022 World Cup cannot be replaced but squads have notably been expanded to 26 players for Qatar.
World Cup injuries: Star players who have been sidelined at the wrong time
Neymar 2014 World Cup
With Brazil vying for the title on home soil, their star player was forced off on a stretcher in their quarter-final win over Colombia.
Neymar was subsequently found to have fractured his vertebra and missed Selecao’s infamous 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-finals.
Who knows how that match would have gone if Neymar wasn’t injured…
Michael Ballack 2010 World Cup
Germany lost their captain Michael Ballack for the 2010 tournament after he injured his ankle in the 2010 FA Cup final.
Ballack had been starring for club and country, with Joachim Low’s side finishing third at the World Cup in South Africa without their veteran midfielder.
Zinedine Zidane 2002 World Cup
Defending champion France had to start the 2002 World Cup without star forward Zinedine Zidane, who was sidelined with a thigh injury.
Zidane missed France’s first two group games, a loss to Senegal and draw with Uruguay, and even his return against Denmark wasn’t enough to see them reach the knockout stages.
World Cup 2022 Injury Replacements
MORE: World Cup injury tracker
A number of teams have been forced to make changes to their original squads of 26 before the tournament, with players picking up injuries in training or warm-up matches, or players being deemed not fit enough to play.
France
Defending champions France, who already had numerous injury problems, have been dealt further blows with defender Presnel Kimpembe and exciting attacker Christopher Nkunku being forced to withdraw from the main squad due to injury.
Their replacements are relatively inexperienced, with Monaco defender Axel Diassi currently uncapped, and Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Randal Kolo Muani only having two caps to date.
To make matters worse, Karim Benzema was also ruled out with injury on Novemer 19 and Deschampes opted not to name a replacement.
- Presnel Kimpembe (recurring injury) replaced by Axel Diassi
- Christopher Nkunku (knee injury) replaced by Randal Kolo Muani
MORE: Final 26 man France squad 2022 World Cup
Argentina
Whilst Argentina are ranked by many as favourites to go all the way in Qatar, injuries have also disrupted their preparations and forced some changes tot heir squad.
Young forward Nicolas Gonzalez has been struggling with a muscle problem that kept him out of the last four matches including the warm-up match against UAE, and Lionel Scaloni opted to replace him in the squad with experienced attacker Angel Correa of Atletico Madrid.
Joaquin Correa also unfortunately picked up a knee injury in that game that will rule him out of the tournament, his replacement is Thiago Almada, who currently plies his trade at Velez Sarsfeld in Argentina.
- Nicolas Gonzalez (muscular) replaced by Angel Correa
- Joaquin Correa (knee) replaced by Thiago Almada
MORE: Final Argentina squad 2022 World Cup
Senegal
Senegal are in the unenviable situation of having to find a late replacement for their star player Sadio Mane.
The Bayern Munich winger picked up a leg injury in one of his final club matches before the tournament, and whilst he was picked in the hopes he could shake the injury off, he hasn’t been able to do so in time.
Young defender Ismail Jakobs was also found to be ineligible to play shortly before the sides first game, forcing him to withdraw from the squad in place of the uncapped Moussa Ndiaye.
MORE: Final 26 man squad Senegal 2022 World Cup
Spain
Spain were forced to omit key players from the squad before arriving in Qatar, and an injury in training has forced a further change.
Valencia left-back Jose Gaya picked up an ankle injury, forcing Luis Enrique to make the tough call to drop him and bring up uncapped Barcelona youngster Alejandro Balde instead.
- Jose Gaya (ankle) replaced by Alejandro Balde
MORE: Full Spain squad 2022 World Cup
Australia
Australia had a host of key players under injury clouds heading into the tournament, and they have unfortunately had to make a late change to their squad.
Scottish-born Martin Boyle was selected in the squad despite being in the process of recovering from a knee injury sustained at club level, and there was much debate during last week as to whether the winger would be fit enough to contribute in Qatar.
But on Sunday morning coach Graham Arnold had to make the tough choice to omit Boyle from the squad of 26. Marco Tilio had been training with the squad as a reserve player in the event of an injury, and he will take Boyle’s place in the squad.
- Martin Boyle (knee) replaced by Marco Tilio
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