FOR THESE STARS, IT'S AU' REVOIR TO DREAMS OF WORLD CUP GLORY IN SOUTH AFRICA

The air all around the world right now is very thick with eager anticipation coupled with great excitement.Of this I harbour not even the race of a doubt in my mind. Which daftie would ask me why the air should be thick with anticipation? We must all know the answer to that.The greatest football fiesta is around the corner, very much around the corner. In fact the kick off this great celebration of the beautiful game is around the corner. This festival, this fiesta- I must admit that I prefer the word fiesta to festival or any other word I could use in its place. Fiesta, sounds like a delicious Italian dish doesn't it, comes around only once in four years. It's the WORLD CUP -shame on any dummies who could not figure that out- the crown jewel of football and the dream of every footballer. I mean, what professional football would not like to play in the world cup? Well, maybe idiots like Giovanni Dos Santos and Samuel Eto'o who are threatening not to play for very silly reasons- utterly stupid reasons in Santos' case.Anyway, any normal player would give their right nose and their father's left prick to star in the world cup, especially this world cup, the first ever in Africa.

But most unfortunately some just won't be able to make it to the mundial-mundial sounds good but still not as tasty as fiesta-although their nations qualified for the tournament and it's for a very good albeit grave reason:injury, the bane of every athlete's career, and indeed life.Some of these players who will be missing in action are big stars and this must be considered a huge blow to the world cup as it is the presence of the big names that adds a special flavour to the competition. Welll, here are some of the big boys who will miss out-one or two might still make it- onthe world cup.

MICHAEL BALLACK on crutches.Looks bloody sad-and hopeless. Like a lost chihuahua.

Ballack's dreams of world cup glory in South Africa were terminated by an utterly atrocious tackle by Kevin Prince Boateng of Tottenham HotSpurs in their FA Cup final on May 15th. Too bad for Germany.But I won't miss this arrogant fu%&er.

DAVID BECKHAM on stretcher. o Father God, why me!?Why?!

The 34-year-old former England captain was hurt in AC Milan’s 1-0 Serie A win over Chievo at the San Siro, a victory which helped close the gap on league leaders Inter.
"A rupture of the Achilles tendon is suspected," said a statement on the AC Milan official website.
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said that the player will be out for "probably five or six months". This hardworking veteran will be missed for his great passing skills and great free kicks. Although England has good free kick takers in Steven Gerard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes and a few others, I bet he will be sorely missed whenever thay get a free kick in Beckham territory.

MICHAEL ESSIEN.Look at how ecstatic he looks. Surely he did not know then that he would not be at South africa 2010. surely I will miss him. He makes it two for Chelsea. Up Chelsea!

Just look at the utter disappoinment on his face and body language. Tell me you feel no pity.

Essien was not even supposed to be at the African Nations Cup in january as he was still fighting to recover fully from a knee injury. The tough and ever-ready-to -battle midfielder got re-injured in January at the Nations Cup and will now miss the World Cup. Too sad for Ghana and Africa as a whole.

DIDIER DROGBA. Another african star bites the dust. God he must really have been hurting. Seehim chew grass like Nebuchadnezzer. This is what he gets for fucking with the Yakuza and their ninjas. Damn the Yakuza to hell!

Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast captain, underwent an emergency operation tonight in an attempt to save his chances of participating in the World Cup after the Chelsea striker damaged his elbow in today's friendly against Japan.Friendly, by name only.
The Ivory Coast manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, said: "He may have an operation, but he is not out. He got a bad injury, a bone close to the elbow is broken, but he is going to a specialist and we will take it from there. We will wait until tomorrow evening. The doctors they can't say any more than that." That's three for chelsea. What the hell is that club doing to African players?We must investigate.

MIKEL OBI. This fucking dude is not going to South Africa but I don't see that as a problem. I don't see any reason why Nigeria, Africa and/or the rest of the world should miss him. What the hell does he do for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, or Chelsea for that matter. What a waste of money! But his case still beggars the question: What the hell does Chelsea do to its african players to get them to get injured so easily? Do I smell a conspiracy hia? He makes it 4 for the Blues now. What does Chelsea feed their players that makes them so injury-prone.

RIO FERDINAND. He looks every inch the captain of a great team doesn't he.

Rio's injury is one that really vexes me. This manchester united and England stalwart is one that never ceases to amaze me with his great defending skills. He got injured in training, damaged his knee kind of and will be sorely missed by his teammates, english fans and football fans in general.

ANDREA PIRLO may also miss out on the world cup after suffering a calf injury in Italy's friendly match against mexico.But unlike the others his is not certain. He might only miss their first match at the tournament.