Injured Vidal’s World Cup hopes hang by a thread

Midfield kingpin Arturo Vidal will have a knee operation tomorrow and faces a desperate race against time to play in the World Cup.
It was the news everyone in Chile feared, but the confirmation was still a bitter pill to swallow for everyone connected with La Roja.
The goalscoring midfielder´s knee problems have turned into a soap opera over the last couple of months. His club, Juventus, tried to keep a lid on things, but the whispers about the severity of Vidal´s injury only grew stronger.
Of course, the Italian club pay his wages and wanted him for their assault on a league and Europa League double, which ultimately was only successful on the domestic front, but it means Chile are the ones who will pay the price.
After medical checks in Barcelona today, it´s been decided that the 26-year-old, one of the most sought-after players in world football, needs arthroscopic surgery on the lateral meniscus of his right knee.
Estimates for how long Vidal will be sidelined vary from six to 12 weeks – and Chile´s opening World Cup match against Australia is in 38 days.
The former Colo Colo and Bayer Leverkusen man seems certain to miss part of the World Cup – and perhaps even all of it.
That will be a major headache for boss Jorge Sampaoli, who was counting on Vidal to be one of his key men in Brazil.
Chile´s medical staff boss Giovanni Carcuro said: “I can´t give strict time-scales. In medicine, and with any patient, it would be irresponsible, but we aren´t discounting the player.
“Yes, we can guarantee that all the efforts will be made in Chile and in Juventus for that he arrives to the World Cup.”

Tags: Arturo Vidal, Football, Jorge Sampaoli