The host of the World Cup, the Russian national team, will have to do without one of their key players, Aleksandr Kokorin.
The striker from Zenit St. Petersburg suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the knee. In the UEFA Europa League clash with RB Leipzig, he had to leave the field after just eight minutes.
Furthermore, his team mates played a draw against the Germans and suffered a defeat with a final score of 3-2.
"Aleksandr Kokorin has torn his cruciate ligament in his right knee," - says the official Zenit statement.
"The Russian national team striker will soon go to Rome for treatment. Details of any planned surgery will be announced in the near future."
Although the official rehabilitation period for Kokorin has not been announced, such an injury should certainly prevent him from participating in the World Cup.
This season, wearing the Zenit jersey, the 26-year-old player scored 19 goals and was linked with a move to London's Arsenal.
