Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Carragher are in agreement that FIFA were wrong to move the World Cup to mid-season. Qatar will be hosting the international competition which is set to commence on November 20 and conclude on December 18.
The World Cup has already had a huge impact on European football with numerous leagues and competitions forced to reschedule fixtures just to accommodate the competition. And, by doing so, several top players look set to miss out due to injuries which, ordinarily, may not have been an issue.
N'Golo Kante is set to be out until the New Year following surgery to his hamstring and Reece James is a doubt after picking up a knock against AC Milan. Meanwhile, Ben Chilwell pulled up with a hamstring injury against Dinamo Zagreb and he too is set to be a huge doubt for the World Cup.
READ MORE: Todd Boehly can sign perfect 'Didier Drogba heir' if Chelsea win £40m transfer race with Man Utd
As is Raphael Varane, who left the pitch during Chelsea's clash with Manchester United last month injured and teary-eyed. Son Heung-min, who is due to captain his South Korea side at the tournament later this month, is another doubt for the World Cup.
The forward was taken off in the first-half of Spurs' clash with Marseille after a collision with Chancel Mbemba. He is set to undergo surgery to stabilise a fracture around his left eye, the club have confirmed.
Had the World Cup remained a summer competition then the aforementioned players may have stood a chance of representing their country at the highest level and therefore raising the quality of football in Qatar. Speaking to CBS Sports following Tottenham's clash with the French outfit, Carragher said: "I think it’s an absolute disgrace that the World Cup is in the position that it's in, for lots of reasons.
"They campaigned on having it in the summer, it is impossible there to have a World Cup in the summer with the temperature, it gets moves to the situation where it is now in the middle of the season. Players who spend their whole lives dreaming of playing in a World Cup and now could be [out] – as we’ve seen with Son, players all around the world, [Raphael] Varane was crying coming off the pitch at Stamford Bridge. That’s how close we are to a World Cup."
Then, following Chelsea's win over Dinamo Zagreb, Ferdinand chipped in and said his piece on the World Cup. Speaking to BT Sport, the former Manchester United defender said: "Managers have been complaining about the amount of games this season, and that could be a by-product of that. It is very difficult to pick up an injury so close to the World Cup. It’s heartbreaking man."
READ NEXT:
What Denis Zakaria did after impressive Chelsea debut as Champions League curse strikes again
Denis Zakaria, Ben Chilwell: Chelsea injury news and return dates ahead of huge Arsenal clash
Chelsea player ratings as Denis Zakaria delivers on debut, Chilwell misfortune, Sterling promise
Graham Potter finds new Raheem Sterling Chelsea tactic but makes Champions League error
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
