Mane may miss the World Cup as Van Dijk expects this. Virgil van Dijk anticipates Sadio Mane, a former teammate from Liverpool, will miss the World Cup due to the injury he sustained just before the competition. Despite suffering an injury “to the head of his right fibula” in the victory over Werder Bremen last week, Mane has been named in the Senegal team by his club, Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old wasn’t with Aliou Cisse’s team when they arrived in Qatar on Monday, but as the team’s mascot and leading scorer, he will have every opportunity to demonstrate his fitness. Without a doubt, he won’t play on November 21 against Van Dijk’s Netherlands in the Group A opening.
It’s going to be difficult whether he plays or not, the Netherlands skipper Van Dijk told reporters. They have a wonderful team, but I doubt he will play. Van Dijk responded, “Of sure,” when asked if he had spoken to his former Liverpool teammate. I was first and foremost sad for him. I’m not pleased with the scenario here, and I’ve been in one where I’ve missed the Euros before (2021). He has played such a significant role in that team and for their nation while we as players work so hard to get to this point. Although I am sure he will put on a brave face, I feel bad for him because I know how difficult it must be.
Van Dijk seems to have a similar pessimistic attitude as the Senegalese Football Federation. Abdoulaye Sow, a board member, stated on Tuesday that the Bayern Munich player wouldn’t be there for his nation’s “initial games” in Qatar. The Netherlands was scheduled to arrive in Doha on Tuesday, and Van Dijk was eager to play in his first significant senior-level competition. I’m really looking forward to competing against the finest footballers in the world, leading my nation there, and doing my country proud in the best way I can, he added. For him, it is a childhood ambition.
Even though I’m now 31 years old, I still expect to enjoy myself just as much—in fact, given everything I’ve been through, perhaps now is even a better time for me to visit. I am quite thrilled about it since we have a fantastic bunch. Getting well in order to participate in at least some of the World Cup will be Mane’s top aim. However, it does not appear likely that he will play in the opening game of Group A, in which Van Dijk will captain the Dutch in his maiden World Cup match.
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