Players' commitment under scrutiny over World Cup dreams

Footballers have their eyes on the 2022 World Cup and would not wish for injuries during league games, would that impact results and commitments? (Photo credit: FIFA)

With just a little over a month to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, pockets of players are beginning to realize the cruel verdict of potentially missing the tournament, not on form or quality but due to the unwanted scourge of injury.

Liverpool’s Luis Dias is out for up to ten weeks following the injury he picked in their 3-2 loss at Arsenal which ultimately rules him out of contention until after the World Cup, how would the Colombian feel if his country qualified for the tournament?

How would players approach the flurry of October fixtures before the league pauses to accommodate the unusual World Cup; how much will reside in these players to commit to tackles when they know their place in the squad to Qatar would be on the line?

There have always been stories of priorities every World Cup year, but the 2022 edition is different with the tournament happening at a pivotal point mid-season. Liverpool for example is in danger of having players that would miss the global football event with many of their players struggling in the medical room.

The irony is the fact that some team coaches would rather their players miss the World Cup as they would not have to worry about fatigue when league football resumes almost immediately after the tournament ends in Qatar.

This brings up the question of how well do the ruling bodies respect the health of the players. Counterarguments will sneak in through the back door to ask if the players don’t get paid handsomely but does that mean they should slave to death?

Would fans understand when their favorite player fails to track a run to avoid jeopardizing his hamstring or a player refuses to go into tackles to avoid broken legs? At some points, something has to be done to the rate of games these players get to play every season, it’s becoming worrying.