World Cup Injury Watch: Group A & B

With the World Cup ever closer (73 days and counting), national team boss will be sweating over every crunching tackles and slight knocks. Here's your guide to those who have injury concern heading into this summer's showcase. First up, groups A and B.

By Jason.Robert Mar 31, 2014, 2:30pm BST

Group A

Brazil

Thiago Silva, defender, fractured cheek bone

The Brazil and PSG skipper fractures his cheek bone during league action against Lorient on March 24th. However, he will not require surgery and should be available as PSG face Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinal this week.

Paulinho, midfielder, conjunctivis

Paulinho missed Spurs game against Liverpool yesterday, in match where Tottenham was beaten 4-0. It is not specified how long Paulinho will be absent with conjunctivis.

Croatia

Luka Modric, midfielder, flu

The Real Madrid star miss his side 5-0 thumping of Rayo Vallecano with a flu-like symptoms.

Cameroon

Alex Song. midfielder, calf injury

Song miss Barcelona's 1-0 win over local rivals, Espanyol with a calf injury. No timetable was given on the midfielder's return date.

Samuel Eto'o, attacker, hamstring

The seasoned striker sustained a hamstring injury against Arsenal on March 22. He is doubtful for the match against PSG this week.

Mexico

No player injured

Group B

Spain

Victor Valdes, goalkeeper, ACL

Barcelona's shot stopper tore his ACL in a league match against against Celta Vigo on March 26. He will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup.

Thiago Alcantara, midfielder, knee injury

Thiago sustained a partial ligament tear on his knee, which will rule him out for 6 to 8 weeks.

Nacho Monreal, defender, foot injury

Arsenal's Spaniard left back is due to return soon, having missed some time with a foot injury.

Netherlands

Kevin Strootman, midfielder, ACL

Another nasty knee injury, the Dutch midfielder will miss the World Cup after sustaining the injury against Napoli on March 9.

Robin van Persie, attacker, sprained knee

The striker sustain the injury against Olympiakos in the Champions League on March 19. He is expected to miss between 4 to 6 weeks.

Siem de Jong, midfielder, hamstring

The Ajax captain has had several injury problems this season. He is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury for the next two weeks.

Australia

Robbie Kruse, midfielder, ACL

The dreaded ACL injury strikes again, Kruse who plays his club football with Bayer Leverkusen, sustain the injury earlier this year and is expected to miss the World Cup.

Rhys Williams, defender, achilles

Middlesbrough defender, Williams suffered a serious achilles tendon injury in late January when his side took on Wigan Athletic. He will be sidelined for approximately 6 months.

Chile