What happens when a defender attempts to be a striker? He misses the World Cup.
It’s rare, but that’s exactly what happened to Poland’s Kamil Glik. He attempted a bicycle kick during a training session on the day head coach Adam Nawalka was supposed to submit his final 23-man World Cup squad. Nawalka included him on the list, hoping that the injury wasn’t serious. However, further diagnosis has confirmed that Glik’s shoulder injury will take around six weeks to heal, effectively ruling him out of the plane to Russia. This is what Poland’s team doctor Jacek Jaroszewski had to say about the injury:
“In my opinion, the situation is bad,”
“Even if the treatment is non-surgical, return to full training will take at least about six weeks.”
Kamil Glik doubt for Poland for World Cup after suffering injury attempting bicycle kick in traininghttps://t.co/qycXxxioKl
— Irish Sun Sport (@IrishSunSport) June 4, 2018
It is a big blow for Poland, as Monaco’s Glik is the team’s primary defender and one of the most reliable center backs in European football. Now, Nawalka will have to rely on 22-year-old youngster Jan Bednarek, a player with only one cap for the senior team (compared to Glik’s 57) and Legia Warsaw’s Michal Pazdan.
Being drawn in a group with Senegal, Japan and Colombia, Poland had high hopes this summer. With a gifted attacking force, a steady midfield and a rock solid defense, Poland was on a mission to conquer Russia. Kamil Glik was supposed to play a crucial role as the building block of that defense. Without him keeping opposition strikers away, Poland suddenly becomes vulnerable, especially with the attacking prowess that Senegal and Colombia bring to the table.
It’s an unfortunate turn of events for the 30-year-old robust defender, who might have missed his last World Cup train. Zbigniew Boniek, head of the Polish Football Association, was obviously disappointed as well:
“What a bummer, @kamilglik25 is hurt and will not go to the World Cup.”
Stuttgart’s Marcin Kaminski is Kamil Glik’s most likely replacement. Adam Nawalka can afford to wait up to 24 hours before the first World Cup game to make a final decision.
