2010 FIFA World Cup: Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand Sidelined By Injury

Contributor Written on June 04, 2010

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Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and England defender Rio Ferdinand both suffered injuries today that will likely see the two captains both miss the 2010 FIFA World Cup set to kickoff in South Africa next week.
Drogba suffered a broken arm during Ivory Coast's pre-tournament friendly against Japan.  The Chelsea striker received the injury in the 19th minute of the match after colliding with Brazilian born defender, Tulio.  Ferdinand, the English captain, tore ligaments in his knee during a training session and is now thought certain to miss the entire tournament.
Drogba was immediately flown to Sweden where he underwent an emergency operation in the hopes of saving his World Cup chances.  Speaking to the press, Ivory Coast manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said of Drogba, "He may have an operation, but he is not out."
However, reports indicate that Drogba's injury, a broken bone close to the elbow, is serious enough to sideline him for the duration of the tournament.  While the absence of Rio Ferdinand puts a defensive dint in English hopes of claiming their first World Cup victory in over forty years, a Drogba-less World Cup is a much dimmer prospect.
Didier Drogba is without a doubt one of the most dangerous strikers in the game today.  His current Castrol Ranking designates him as the third best player in world football.  Whether you support Ivory Coast or not, watching players of Drogba's quality competing against one another is a big part of why we tune in to watch the World Cup in the first place.
What's more, Ivory Coast have been placed in the so-called "group of death" along with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.  Without the powerful striker upfront, the Ivory Coast's attack would seem in danger of being rendered somewhat toothless. And without a strong, threatening Ivory Coast, the group of death could become a whole lot less deadly.
Drogba, along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, is one of the few players in the tournament who carry the hopes and dreams of an entire nation squarely on his shoulders.  While the Ivory Coast have a strong, experienced team, it is almost entirely because of Drogba's threat in front of goal that they are considered favorites among African nations competing in the first World Cup to be held on African soil.
By comparison, Ferdinand, a hard-hitting, experienced defender, is merely a member of the chorus on an English squad that bristles with talented star players from top to bottom.  While he may be the team captain, his absence is far from the fatal blow to English hopes that Drogba's is to those of the Ivory Coast.
With uncapped Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson being called in as his replacement and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard being appointed captain, England seem more than capable of closing ranks and engaging in that most English practice of carrying on regardless.
Copy from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/401538-fifa-world-cup-2010-didier-drogba-and-rio-ferdinand-sidelined-by-injury