Uruguay fans see the World Cup in Qatar as a perfect chance to achieve something great and attack the golden trophy. But attacking will be the last of their worries because the list of their injured defenders grows ever so long. The last casualty is Ronald Araujo.Barcelona’s star man was injured in his nation’s friendly against Iran on Friday, picking up a muscle tear that could even require surgery. According to reports from the Uruguay camp, the 23-year-old defender could be out for six or seven weeks, making his return dangerously close to La Celeste’s opening World Cup match against South Korea on 24 November.LATEST NEWS | Tests on Saturday morning have confirmed that Ronald Araujo has a right adductor longus tendon avulsion. As a result he is unavailable for selection until he recovers. pic.twitter.com/apf6RV8syi— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 24, 2022 National coach Diego Alonso couldn’t believe the news because he already has to sweat over the fitness of fellow centre-backs Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez and Sebastian Coates. Captain Godin, formerly of Atletico Madrid and Inter, is currently in Madrid, where he’s receiving treatment for his troublesome tendons that have kept him out of action for his club Velez Sarsfield since 6 August. Atletico’s Gimenez stayed in Spain to train as he’s only now returning to full fitness. And Coates, captain of Sporting Clube de Portugal, is out with a thigh problem – leaving coach Alonso to wonder and pray for a few fit defenders he could field in Qatar. ##NAJAVA_MECA_6675356##For Tuesday’s friendly against Canada, La Celeste will field some of Leandro Cabrera of Espanyol, Agustin Rogel of Hertha, Sebastian Caceres from Club America, Martin Caceres of LA Galaxy and Matias Vina of AS Roma. A mix of veterans, unproven players and those who simply aren’t top class. It’s testing time for the South American nation.Meanwhile, Barcelona’s coach Xavi will also have to reconsider his options, with Araujo likely to be out for the rest of 2022. The burden will fall on Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen and unwanted man Gerard Pique.
