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AC Milan's David Beckham leaves the pitch after being injured against Chievo - Source: Reuters -
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England's David Beckham is set to miss this year's World Cup
despite undergoing successful surgery on his torn Achilles tendon
on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old suffered the injury in AC Milan's 1-0 win over
Chievo on Monday and flew to Finland for an operation performed by
one of the world's top specialists.
"So far everything is fine," surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava told
Reuters. "The operation went smoothly and nicely."
Orava was asked whether the midfielder would be able to play in
the World Cup in South Africa starting on June 11.
"No, I don't think so...healing takes a long time," he said.
Beckham's foot will be in a cast for around six to eight weeks,
after which he can start "more vigorous" physiotherapy.
Beckham, England's most capped outfield player with 115
appearances, had been bidding to play in a fourth World Cup.
"I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of
support," Beckham said on his official website. "I hope to make a
swift and full recovery."
England coach Fabio Capello said Beckham's likely absence was a
"big blow".
"I am very sad for David that he has suffered this injury,"
Capello said in a statement on the FA website.
"I spoke with him after the game on Sunday night to offer my
support, as did (assistant) Franco Baldini.
"David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be
ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow."
Beckham was getting ready to kick a ball unchallenged late in
Sunday's Serie A match when he suddenly pulled up and shouted to
the Milan bench "It's broken".
"He had a total tear of the left Achilles tendon and that was
repaired," Orava added, saying it was unclear where Beckham would
go next for the start of his rehabilitation.
"He was actually in quite a good mood. He was smiling and happy
that the operation was done, and happy to hear it went fine. He was
not at all depressed, that we could see, about the ability to play
in the World Cup."
Minor miracle
Beckham, on loan at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy for a second
time, will miss the Serie A run-in with his side a point behind
leaders Inter Milan with 10 games left.
Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani reckoned one of the world's
most famous players could be out for five or six months.
Beckham is due to return to Galaxy in July but Galliani said the
Italian club would love to have him back again next season.
"In the dressing room I hugged him and told him that he could stay
with us again next year if he wants," Galliani told Sky
television.
Renowned surgeon Orava performed a minor miracle in fixing Alpine
skier Peter Fill's Achilles in time for last month's Winter
Olympics after the Italian injured himself in October.
However, Beckham has even less time before the World Cup and has
largely been a substitute under Capello, who has many other options
on the right wing.
Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips and James Milner are among the
players able to play there, Tottenham's Aaron Lennon is another
option but is currently injured.
