The FIFA World Cup is just a few days away from kicking off. However, due to the nature of this tournament, a number of players enter this competition nursing knocks and injuries.
This is true for Sadio Mane, the Senegalese superstar looking to guide his nation to the round of 16. The Bayern Munich ace injured his right fibula in the final pre-Qatar 2022 Bundesliga round, and while he has been named in his nation's FIFA World Cup squad, the 30-year-old has been ruled out for their opening game.
Unfortunately, their first match is their crucial showdown with the Netherlands, led by Mane's former Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk. The Oranje are the favorites to win Group A and the absence of Sadio will only add to those odds.
Sadio Mane is set to miss Senegal's first World Cup match against the Netherlands due to a leg injury pic.twitter.com/7idZS8NPrV
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) November 15, 2022
However, Van Dijk, who will be making his World Cup debut, still expects a tough fixture. Additionally, the Anfield center-back also shared some touching words in regard to his former comrade, admitting that he feels sad that Mane will not be able to enjoy the opening game of the highly-anticipated tournament.
"It's going to be tough if he plays or not,' said Van Dijk (as per the Daily Mail). "I don't think he will play, but Senegal have a fantastic team.
"Of course (I have spoken to him)," he added. "I was feeling sad for him, first and foremost.
"I'm not happy in this case and I've been in that situation where I missed the Euros. We as players work so hard to get to this stage and he has been such an important figure for his country.
"I know for a fact that he will put a brave face on it, but it's tough and I feel sorry for him. I just want to tell him that whether he plays or not, it's going to be such a tough game."
The Senegalese ace left Merseyside over the summer after spending four-and-a-half years alongside Van Dijk. During that time, the pair won everything, lifting the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, and the Carabao Cup.
However, friendship will be set aside on the pitch as Virgil looks to lead his team to glory. The Netherlands, known as the greatest nation to have never won the FIFA World Cup, failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and will want to make amends.
Since the arrival of Louis van Gaal, the European giants have gone from strength to strength, reaching the UEFA Nations League final and mounting an impressive FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. However, the Lions of Teranga are the champions of Africa, having won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, and should thus not be underestimated.
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