A number of World Cup stars are in a race to be match forward of the spherical of 16 after selecting up knocks within the group levels.

A number of big-name gamers have missed out on the World Cup 2022 by harm, together with France’s midfield duo of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante.

Others have been delivered to Qatar by their managers who hoped they may recuperate however have but to characteristic. This listing consists of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, who has now undergone surgical procedure.

The group levels additionally noticed their fair proportion of harm scares, however these updates have usually been drowned out by the hectic four-match per day schedule soccer followers have been handled to over the previous couple of weeks.

Listed here are a number of the big-name gamers who’ve performed on the match however are actually unsure for the knockout levels:

Neymar – Brazil

Brazil’s star participant was fouled 9 instances through the workforce’s 2-0 opening win over Serbia. He limped off with an ankle harm and didn’t characteristic within the closing two group-stage matches.

“I blame myself with Neymar as a result of I didn’t see that he was injured and he performed on for 10 or 11 minutes,” Brazil supervisor Tite later mentioned.

There have been experiences that the Paris Saint-Germaine striker is receiving cryotherapy in a bid to get himself match for his or her spherical of 16 conflict in opposition to South Korea.

Neymar has endured some unhealthy luck on the World Cup, breaking a vertebra in his again in opposition to Colombia within the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals after which enjoying by an ankle harm in 2018.

He has scored 75 targets in 122 appearances for his nation, simply two shy of Pele’s document.

Danilo – Brazil

The Juventus right-back has saved Neymar firm within the cryotherapy chambers after he additionally picked up an ankle harm in the identical match.

The duo is predicted to return within the knockout phases, with Tite asserting, “I imagine each Neymar and Danilo will play once more within the World Cup. I’ve medical experiences which are on my aspect.”

Cheikhou Kouyate – Senegal

The Nottingham Forest midfielder was compelled off throughout his nation’s opening match in opposition to the Netherlands with a groin harm and didn’t characteristic in opposition to Qatar or Ecuador.

Kouyate brings expertise to Senegal’s midfield and boasts greater than 100 appearances for West Ham and Crystal Palace. He has been a cornerstone of the Senegal workforce that gained the Africa Cup of Nations title earlier within the yr. Senegal will need him to be match to face England within the final 16 on Sunday.

Christian Pulisic – USA

Pulisic collided with Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand as he met a Sergino Dest cross of their final group stage match. The purpose secured his nation’s place within the knockout rounds – the place they are going to meet the Netherlands – however got here at a value.

UPDATE: #USMNT ahead Christian Pulisic has been identified with a pelvic contusion and his standing is day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/abZcjU6tco

— U.S. Males’s Nationwide Soccer Group (@USMNT) November 29, 2022

The affect precipitated a pelvic contusion, and Pulisic was compelled off the sphere and later obtained hospital remedy.

Nevertheless, the Chelsea winger has instructed followers by way of social media that he can be prepared for his or her spherical of 16 match.

In a Snapchat submit, he wrote, “I’ll be prepared Saturday, don’t fear”.

Danilo Pereira – Portugal

The PSG centre-back is hoping to return for his nation’s final 16 match-up with Switzerland after struggling three damaged ribs in coaching through the group stage.

Veteran Pepe deputised for Pereira at centre-back alongside Manchester Metropolis’s Ruben Dias within the final two group-stage matches.