Dutch attacking midfielder is another World Cup absentee | OneFootball

Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons, of Tottenham, announced on his social media that he is out of the World Cup due to an injury to his right knee.

The injury occurred last Saturday during a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton in the Premier League. It happened while contesting the ball, without any contact from the opposing defender.

Tottenham confirmed that Xavi tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

In 2022, in Qatar, he played only in the final minutes of the Netherlands’ 3-1 win over the United States in the round of 16.

In a post on Instagram, the player shared a long message about the pain of having his season abruptly interrupted.

The Netherlands are in World Cup Group F, along with Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.

Below is the full statement released by the player:

They say life can be cruel, and today I feel exactly that. My season has come to an abrupt end, and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of this makes sense. All I wanted most was to fight for my team, and now the chance to do that has been taken away from me... along with the World Cup. Representing my country this summer... it’s simply over. It will take time for me to find peace with this, but I will continue to be the best teammate I can be. I have no doubt that, together, we will win this fight. I will walk this path now, guided by faith, with strength, with resilience, with conviction, as I count the days until I return to the pitch. Please be patient with me.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 DARREN STAPLES - AFP or licensors