World Cup injured players Who will definitely miss the tournament
Victor Valdes (Spain): Unlikely to play in Brazil unless there was a dead rubber in the group stage, but Valdes will be unavailable for warming the bench after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in March.
Silvio (Portugal): The full-back fractured both the fibula and tibia on his right leg after missing the ball and kicking team-mate Luisão instead, during a Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar.
Holger Badstuber (Germany): He hasn't played professional football since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in November 2012.
Jetro Willems (Netherlands): The 20-year old PSV full-back has had an impressive season, but a knee ligament injury has ruled him out of going to Brazil.
Stuart Holden (USA):
The American midfielder is recovering from an operation on a fourth serious knee injury in three years.
Makoto Hasebe (Japan): The Japan captain has had surgery on his knee twice already this year, the most recent in February.
Kevin Strootman (Netherlands): Holland manager Louis van Gaal cursed that Strootman's "dreams have died" after the midfielder suffered a knee injury playing for Roma in March.
Theo Walcott (England):
The Arsenal forward was ruled out of this summer's tournament as early as January after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the FA Cup win over Tottenham.
Robbie Kruse (Australia): The Socceroos' player of the year tore ligaments in his left knee in January and rejected a radical ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) surgery to fast-track his recovery.
Christian Benteke (Belgium):
The striker was ruled out for a minimum of six months with a ruptured achilles tendon suffered in training earlier this month.
Jay Rodriguez (England): An outside bet to make Roy Hodgson's final 23, the Southampton striker was another to suffer a serious knee injury after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in April.
Maybe out
Daniel Agyei (Ghana): The Free State Stars goalkeeper has been unable to reclaim his first-team position after a hernia problem and may miss the final cut for Ghana.
Camilo Zuniga (Colombia): The full-back has returned to training after missing five months of the season but faces little time to make a full recovery.
Bryan Oviedo (Costa Rica): After breaking his leg in two places during Everton's FA Cup win over Stevenage in January, the Costa Rica full-back has made rapid progress in his unlikely recovery from injury.
Sami Khedira (Germany): After missing five months this season due to a knee injury, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that the German may play again this season as he stages a late bid to make it to Brazil.
Ilkay Gundogan (Germany): Hasn't featured since Germany's friendly draw with Paraguay in August because of a back injury, and Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he won't play again this season.
Jack Wilshere (England): Arsene Wenger has told Roy Hodgson that
the Arsenal midfielder will be fit for the World Cup despite not playing since suffering a metatarsal injury playing for England against Denmark last month.
Thiago Alcantara (Spain): The midfielder was ruled out for up to eight weeks at the end of March after suffering a partial tear to the medial ligament in his right knee and may not play again this season.
Stephan El Shaarawy (Italy): The AC Milan youngster has not featured since December after a foot injury but is due to return before the end of the season as he stages a late final push.
Giuseppi Rossi (Italy): After missing nearly four months of the season due to another knee ligament injury, the Fiorentina forward returned to training this week and could still make Cesare Prandelli's 23-man squad.
Lacina Traore (Ivory Coast): The striker has played only once since securing a loan move to Everton in January due to a hamstring injury and Roberto Martinez does not expect him to be fit before the end of the campaign.
Radamel Falcao (Colombia): The Monaco superstar's World Cup dream looked effectively over after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January, but has made swift progress in his recovery and could still feature in Brazil.
