Xavi Simons Out for 12 Months, Misses World Cup with Torn ACL
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| Xavi Simons ruled out for season and World Cup with ACL tear |
With 45 days to Netherlands vs Japan, Xavi Simons joins Schouten on ACL list. Spurs midfielder out 12 months after Bueno challenge at Tottenham.
Netherlands now without Simons and Schouten as injury crisis deepens before Japan opener...
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons will miss the FIFA World Cup after tearing his ACL in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolves, the player confirmed.
Simons went down clutching his knee in agony after a challenge with Wolves defender Hugo Bueno. He briefly returned following initial checks from Spurs’ medical staff but was soon stretchered off.
Further scans confirmed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, sidelining Simons for up to 12 months and ruling him out of this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
“They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way,” Simons said in a post on Instagram, sharing the news. “My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of it makes sense.
“All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me… along with the World Cup. Representing my country this summer… just gone. It’ll take time to find peace with this, but I’ll continue to be the best teammate I can be. I have no doubt that together we’ll win this fight.”
The 23-year-old had initially reassured manager Roberto de Zerbi, who said after Spurs' crucial win: “I spoke with him, and he feels better than when he got his injury.”
Simons had just begun to find form for struggling Spurs, with two goals and an assist in his last five games for the Lilywhites. Since his reported €65 million move from RB Leipzig, he had scored 2 and set up 5 in 28 Premier League appearances.
Koeman’s Selection Crisis Deepens
Simons’ injury hands Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman another major headache with the FIFA World Cup just 45 days away.
Koeman has been dealing with a lengthy absentee list, with Frenkie de Jong, Emmanuel Emegha, Memphis Depay, Ryan Gravenberch, Robin Roefs, Matthijs de Ligt, Mark Flekken and Jeremie Frimpong all missing March friendlies against Ecuador and Norway.
PSV captain Jerdy Schouten was already ruled out of the World Cup after tearing his ACL in early April, while De Ligt and Memphis are racing to be fit in time for the tournament.
The Netherlands are in Group F alongside Japan, Sweden and Tunisia at the World Cup. Oranje open their campaign against Japan on Sunday, June 14.
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