Thiago Alcantara’s chances of featuring in next summer’s World Cup could be in danger after the midfielder picked up a thigh injury during Bayern Munich’s 2-1 victory over Anderlecht on Wednesday.
Thiago was replaced by James Rodriguez after a seemingly innocuous challenge. However, the Spanish international was visibly upset and immediately asked to be substituted.
Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzicwas the bearer of bad news when he revealed that Thiago could be out for several months when he was forced to limp off the pitch in the 44th minute.
Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes later confirmed that Thiago suffered a “heavy thigh strain” and is expected to miss an extended period of time.
Thiago will likely undergo scans to discover the severity of the injury before an announcement regarding his return is made.
If the seven-month prognosis is correct, Thiago might struggle to regain fitness in time to be selected by the Spanish national team ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which kicks off in June.
Meanwhile, Arjen Robben was also forced out of the match with an injury, but Heynckes said that the knock is “not too serious.”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Clay Matthews’ groin injury, which kept him out of last Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh, afforded him the opportunity to spend more time around Aaron Rodgers.
And not just for another State Farm commercial.
The Green Bay Packers linebacker got an up-close look at the quarterback’s rehab from his broken collarbone and came away with this revelation: “I think we probably should have kept him off IR.”
Aaron Rodgers would have preferred to be in uniform for last Sunday’s meeting with Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, but the Green Bay quarterback’s time may soon come. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
That doesn’t mean Rodgers’ collarbone would be healed in time for him to play any earlier than Week 15 at Carolina — the earliest game he could play in, based on the injured reserve rules that state a player must sit out at least eight games before a team uses one of its two designated-to-return spots.
“The way he’s coming along, some of the balls he’s throwing, accuracy-wise, everything a quarterback has to do is pretty remarkable,” Matthews added.
“It would be really neat to see him out there, but unfortunately he’ll have to wait two [more] weeks to [play],” Matthews said. “Who knows if it will give us a boost or a jolt? It’s always good when [Rodgers is on the field].”
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Said receiver Jordy Nelson: “We’ll wait and see, I guess. I’m not really worried about it, to be honest with you. If he is, that’d be great. Obviously, that means he’s progressed and doing what he needs to do to be ready if he’s able to come back. Yeah, it’d be fun to see him out there, but obviously that won’t affect what’s going on for Sunday.”
Rodgers said he would return this season if his collarbone, which was surgically repaired with plates and screws, is healed. But the Packers (5-6) probably wouldn’t put the two-time NFL MVP on the field if the playoffs weren’t within reach. They have winnable games against Tampa Bay at home on Sunday and at Cleveland the following week before Rodgers could play against the Panthers.
“We have to win these next five,” said Matthews, who returned to practice Wednesday. “I mean, that’s the reality of it. I don’t have any ‘relax’ one-liners or ‘run the table’ or whatever. I’ll leave that up to Aaron. But that’s the reality of it. We have to get it done. Part of that is if you’re looking at the big picture, I know no game is bigger than the next one, but we have to win these next two and when Aaron’s back at the helm, we have a pretty good squad. That’s the reality of it. So, yeah, hopefully we get to see him because that means we’re winning ballgames.”
Julio Cesar bid farewell to his Benfica teammates Tuesday after it was revealed the Brazilian goalkeeper and the club terminated his contract by mutual consent.
The 38-year-old could hardly control his emotions, giving each player and member from the coaching staff a hug.
Cesar is also expected to announce his retirement, but the former Inter Milan goalkeeper has yet to confirm plans to hang up his boots.
Shortly after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Cesar signed on with the Portuguese outfit and went on to make over 50 appearances.
However, his workload has been drastically reduced over the last two seasons. The emergence of Ederson, who has since been sold to Manchester City, forced him into a back-up role. Meanwhile, starting chances this term have predominantly gone to Bruno Varela while teenager Mile Svilar has been given the nod in net during a pair of Champions League encounters.
A despedida do Imperador. Obrigado, @ojuliocesar_12! pic.twitter.com/GtJIoItEgh
Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree each had their two-game suspensions reduced to one game, two days after they were ejected for fighting, the league announced.
Both players had their appeals heard Tuesday. James Thrash was the appeals officer for Talib, and Derrick Brooks was the appeals officer for Crabtree.
Denver president and general manager John Elway and head coach Vance Joseph took part in the appeal hearing for Talib.
“From our point of view, we thought Crabtree was the aggressor,” Elway said on Orange & Blue 760. “He was the one that started it. Obviously it’s not something we want in the game, and I understand it from the league’s perspective that they don’t want it in the league, but I just thought that for Aqib and for our team, I thought [he] did a pretty good job of handling the situation that really could have gotten way out of control. Even though it was a little bit out of control, it could have been a lot worse with the way things went about and Crabtree’s mentality.”
In his letter to Talib on Monday, NFL vice president of operations Jon Runyan referenced Talib ripping a chain off Crabtree’s neck, “aggressively” removing Crabtree’s helmet and throwing a punch, as well as the two players “reigniting” the fight for a second confrontation. Runyan added “such actions have no place in this game, engender ill will between teams, and lead to further confrontations.”
Broncos CB Aqib Talib and Raiders WR Michael Crabtree were ejected from Sunday’s game for fighting on Oakland’s second possession of the game. AP Photo/Ben Margot
On a second-and-6 play from the Raiders 24-yard line on Oakland’s second possession of the game, Crabtree blocked Talib during a 5-yard run by Marshawn Lynch. Crabtree kept pushing Talib out of bounds near the Broncos’ bench area.
Talib and Crabtree then exchanged shoves before they threw punches at each other. Talib said Monday that Crabtree threw a punch at him first. As he did in a game last season, Talib had ripped a necklace off Crabtree before the fight.
Because of the previous incident, Crabtree had taped the chain to his body before the game, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. And Talib still got it.
Several other players from both teams joined in along the Broncos’ sideline. Talib eventually got ahold of Crabtree’s helmet, pulling it out of a crowd, and he tossed it toward the stands.
Earlier Monday, Joseph called Talib’s actions “unacceptable,” while Talib has said he hopes the NFL would consider “how it started” before handing down any potential discipline.
Joseph said he addressed the incident at Monday’s team meeting.
“It’s unacceptable; we can’t do it,” Joseph said.
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, in a tweet Monday, said it was “hard to understand” the NFL’s initial two-game suspension.
