Cisse out of Cup with broken leg
Fidelis Katonga
And now this!!
Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse is out of the World Cup after breaking his right leg in France's friendly against China on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old was knocked off balance by a defender 10 minutes into the game and fell, his right leg twisting under him and buckling above the ankle.
Cisse, who had been tipped to leave Liverpool this summer, had immediate surgery on a fractured tibia.
France coach Raymond Domenech said: "He has an open fracture of the tibia."
Domenech added: "It's a vicious blow to all of us."
Cisse, who broke his left leg while playing for Liverpool in October 2004, had been linked with a move to Marseille after the World Cup.
He will now spend the closed-season recovering from his operation, with an eye on returning to action some time in 2006-2007.
In the game itself, Cisse was replaced by David Trezeguet, who went on to score France's opener. The French won the game 3-1.
Ex-Arsenal and Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka, now of Fenerbahce, and Barcelona's Ludovic Giuly are in line to replace Cisse in the French squad.
Domenech said: "We don't know the name of his replacement yet, we want to take our time in order to make the right decision.
"This is a big shock and a huge trauma for the team."
Although he was part of France's 2002 World Cup squad, Cisse missed Euro 2004 after being given a five-game ban following a sending off in an Under-21 match.
During qualification for the finals Cisse was France's leading scorer with four goals.
DaudiChwa
wrong way just before the world cup asking to leave because they dont
get along well.
Who will buy an asset who has fractured the same foot twice within a
period of two seasons.
Balaa...