Euro 2021 will have a series of important absences due to footballers’ injuries. We tell you about the problems related to the knee that are being charged the most.
The problems of soccer athletes have a lot to do with the disorders they suffer in their practices and in disputes. Thus, the injuries that will leave the stars of European teams out of the Eurocup have become evident in recent times.
The big teams in the local leagues are always challenged to keep their squad in top physical condition. But the demands of tournaments and the fast pace of games expose them to losing key presences for several minutes. This translates, then, into the impossibility for these same footballers to represent their countries in international tournaments.
The injuries that will leave many professionals out of the Eurocup can be summarized in 3, which are the most important. All of them are common in football and affect the lower limbs, particularly the knee. And it is that this joint suffers an almost constant recharge in this sport.
Which players will be left out of the Eurocup due to injuries?
So far, the information available confirms that at least 7 players will be left out of the Eurocup due to injuries that they drag and from which they will not recover in time. It is also true that many prefer not to be exposed to a high intensity championship so as not to aggravate their pictures.
Among them we can talk about Ansu Fati, a young Barcelona player who has a torn meniscus. His case has had twists and turns with unsuccessful surgeries and the real possibility that he will limit his professional development over the years.
We also have Cenk Tosun, originally from Turkey, who not only suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his knee, but also fractured his patella. As we said, this joint is very exposed in football. The Austrian Baumgartlinger, who is also out, can well assert it.
The patellar tendon, on the other hand, is the culprit that Joe Gómez did not sign for England in Euro 2021. Emphasizing the frequency of the incidence, another absent will be Zaniolo for Italy, with problems in the cruciate ligament.
Cruciate ligaments are frequently injured in soccer, forcing players to rest.
The 3 knee injuries that will leave footballers out of the Eurocup the most
As we said, knee injuries are the protagonists of the absences in the next Eurocup 2021. Both the torn cruciate ligaments and the torn meniscus and patellar tendinitis are wreaking havoc among teams in the European leagues. Let’s see in detail what each one is about.
1. Cruciate ligament tear
The cruciate ligaments are structures that are inside the knees. There is an anterior and a posterior one in each one and they cross to form an X. Its function is to unite the tibia with the femur. In this way, they control forward and backward movement.
In soccer players there may be a tear or a sprain of these ligaments, that is, a stretch beyond their capabilities. The first situation is more serious and requires prolonged rest until complete recovery is achieved.
Initially, as soon as the break or sprain occurs, a loud clicking or noise is usually felt in the knee. The pain is almost immediate and physical activity cannot be continued. There is a functional impotence that stops the athlete from executing his movements.
The knee becomes unstable and fluid accumulates inside. That is why there is inflammation, which can be reduced a little with the application of local cold and rest. Severe cases require surgery and rehabilitation to return to the court. The greatest danger is always chronic instability, which favors the repetition of the injury when returning to sports practices.
2. Patellar tendonitis
The patellar tendon connects the tibia with the quadriceps. This is a powerful muscle located in the thigh, so the tendon in question also needs to be powerful, since it will act with the extension and stretching of this part of the lower limbs.
A tendonitis is defined as the inflammation of a tendon. Therefore, when we refer to the knee, what happens is that this patellar tendon accumulates inflammatory fluid and enlarges in size, losing functionality. It does not always result in an acute condition, but often develops slowly to stiffness and instability.
It is uncommon for this tendon to rupture completely, but its stretching and the overload that inflames it is not so unusual. In soccer, it is an anatomical structure that needs strength, since the minutes running at maximum intensity and the extensions of the lower limbs deserve a consistent development of the tissue.
The treatment for patellar tendonitis is based on the application of physical methods, such as local cold, plus pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. Corticosteroid infiltration can even be performed to improve the internal condition of the joint. If all this fails, along with rehabilitation, surgery is carried out.
3. Meniscus tear
The menisci are 4 anatomical cartilage structures that lie on the plate of the tibia. Its main function is to cushion the movements of the knee so that there is no friction between the bone tissues, so that they do not wear out. Synovial fluid contributes to this.
In soccer players, the menisci are torn by shock trauma between athletes or by a movement of the knee that is contrary to nature. This can happen when, when running at maximum speed, you change the direction of the race or stop abruptly, putting all the pressure on the tibia plate.
In many soccer players it is preferred to perform an arthroscopy to repair the damaged meniscus, either by suturing it or removing a small part of it. If the patient is not active or is in the elderly, then the entire meniscus could be removed.
Pain is a constant in soccer knee injuries. In addition to functional impotence.
The injuries that will leave the players out of the Eurocup worry
Knee injuries worry all footballers. It is an articulation that is vital for the game and that puts the professionals off the field for months, which reduces their future projection.
This European Championship 2021 shows the importance of these events in the football world. Absences will be notorious and teams will have to rearm their squads to be able to face the international event.
