The six most heartbreaking absences from the World Cup

By Eric Beard

With recent news coming out of South Africa that England captain Rio Ferdinand will miss the World Cup due to a knee injury suffered in training and Ivory Coast national hero & captain Didier Drogba is questionable for the cup as well thanks to an elbow fracture suffered in a friendly match against Japan, it seems like the right time to recognize a few truly special players that fans from all around the world would have loved to see partake in this summer’s festivities. And because there are six days until the World Cup kicks off, I’ve narrowed it down to six players.

6. Michael Essien (Ghana)

Known as “The Bison”, the Chelsea FC midfielder and Ghanaian captain Michael Essien tore his medial ligament in his left knee in January while preparing for the African Cup of Nations. Ghana is alongside the Ivory Coast as the strongest African footballing nation, and it’s no surprise that in a team nicknamed “the Black Stars” (based on the country’s flag) Essien has established himself as the shining “Black Star.” Essien’s teammate at Chelsea, Didier Drogba, may have been carrying African football on his back for the past few months, however, there is no denying the star power Essien would have brought to the tournament. After all, the Ghanaian led his country out of the 2006 World Cup’s Group of Death with Italy, the Czech Republic, and the United States, before losing to the mighty Brazil in knockout stages. Everyone is supporting the African nations this time around in the World Cup, but sadly Ghana will not be favourites to advance out of their group with Germany, Australia, and Serbia without their 27-year-old captain commanding the midfield.

5. Ronaldinho (Brazil)

Brazil are without all their attacking “O’s” this summer. Those “O’s” are AC Milan forward Pato, Flamengo striker Adriano, the legendary Ronaldo who is now at Corinthians, and the cheerful Ronaldinho. Brazilian manager Dunga, a former captain of the Seleção from the 90s, has Brazil’s reputation to assist him. Rob Smyth of The Guardian put it perfectly by writing, “the greatest trick Brazil ever pulled was convincing the world that joga bonito exists.” Joga Bonito is the flamboyant, entertaining, and dominant style of play that the Portuguese-speaking South Americans have associated themselves with. Anyway, Ronaldinho is the epitome of joga bonito. After all, the 2004 and 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year became absurdly popular for his reputation to try the absurd and simply enjoy being on the pitch.