The World Cup 2022 in Qatar is just three weeks away. And more than anything, it is the fear of injury that has gripped footballers across leagues as matches continue to come thick and fast in a packed calendar.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted on Friday that the upcoming World Cup will be in players' minds as they try to avoid injury.
England duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are unlikely to play for City again before the break for the World Cup as they battle to fit in time to be selected by Gareth Southgate for the tournament that starts on November 20.
Also, Manchester United's Raphael Varane left the field in tears when the France centre-back suffered a muscle injury against Chelsea.
Earlier, Tottenham’s Richarlison feared the worst when he suffered a calf injury. However, the Brazil striker and Varane have since been given hope they could make it to Qatar with neither injury as serious as first feared.
“What I see is a really packed schedule now, a lot of players playing a lot of minutes, and realistically we will lose more,” said England manager Southgate last month. “I just think it’s so intense and the players have had so much football.”
So who all are injured and which players still have a chance of making to the Qatar World Cup. Scroll through the gallery above to find out.
List of injured players ahead of Fifa World Cup 2022
Raphael Varane (France) - Leg injury
N'Golo Kante (France) - Hamstring injury. Out for four months after surgery
Richarlison (Brazil) - Calf injury
Reece James (England) - Knee injury
Diogo Jota (Portugal) - Calf injury
Jesus Corona (Mexico) - Out due to ankle injury
Alexander Isak (Sweden) - Thigh injury
Paulo Dybala (Argentina) - Thigh muscle injury
Boubacar Kamara (France) - Knee ligament injury
Pedro Neto (Portugal) - Ankle injury
Arthur Melo (Brazil) - Muscle injury
Kyle Walker (England) - Groin surgery
Kalvin Phillips (England) - Shoulder problem
Paul Pogba (France) - Surgery on damaged meniscus
Ronald Araujo (Uruguay) - Thigh surgery
Angel di Maria (Argentina) - Hamstring injury
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) - Hamstring injury
Timo Werner (Germany) - Torn ankle ligament
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Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,050,000
On sale: now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
