FIFA World Cup and Football Soccer News

Russia coach Fabio Capello said Shirokov will go to Finland on Monday for a back operation. The Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder missed all three World Cup warmup games, including on Friday when Russia beat Morocco 2-0 in its final pre-tournament friendly.

Yuri Zhirkov secured the win over Morocco in Moscow with a spectacular volley in the 58th minute for his first international goal, after center back Vasily Berezutsky scored in the 29th from a corner.

Shirokov's place in the squad will be taken by 21-year-old midfielder Pavel Mogilevets, who has made just one appearance for Russia.

Shirokov is "hardly like to be able to help us at the World Cup," Capello was quoted as saying in local media. "Shirokov will be replaced in the squad by Mogilevets."

Source: http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/225359-fifa-world-cup-russia-captain-roman-shirokov-misses-out-with-injury 

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes is expected to be sidelined for seven months after a successful surgery on his right knee. He will miss the World Cup in Brazil in June. Valdés underwent surgery in Germany after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Barça's 3-0 win over Celta Vigo on 26 March after landing awkwardly while saving a free-kick.

The Guardian reported that Valdés is likely to have played his last game for Barça. The goalkeeper plans to leave the Camp Nou at the end of his contract in June.

Valdés has played 535 games for Barça  with six La Liga (Spanish first division) titles and three UEFA Champions League titles and was also part of the Spain squad who won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship. 

Read more about the surgery:

http://nesn.com/2014/03/victor-valdes-undergoes-knee-surgery-will-miss-2014-world-cup/

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/mar/31/victor-valdes-knee-surgery-barcelona-spain-world-cup