Doctor Confirms Beckham Out of World Cup

Sakari Orava the Finnish surgeon who operated on David Beckham’s ruptured Achilles tendon earlier today has confirmed that the former England captain will miss the World Cup. The tendon has been repaired and he is doing well, but he will not recover in time for the World Cup, Orava told AFP Monday.

“It will take many months for him to recover,” Orava told AFP, adding there was “no chance” the former England captain would play in the World Cup in South Africa.

Beckham twisted his left ankle attempting to control a pass during the final minutes of an AC Milan Serie A game against Chievo on Sunday and limped off the field before being stretchered away in pain and in tears.

The 34-year-old midfielder was walking on crutches when he arrived at the sports injury clinic of Mehilaeinen hospital in Turku where Orava operated on him. Beckham will stay in Finland overnight and could travel to either England or Italy either Tuesday or Wednesday, orthopaedic surgeon Orava said, adding that Beckham could be out for up to six months.

Beckham’s spokesman insisted he was still committed to MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy. “Even if David does miss the World Cup, he is aiming to play towards the end of the Major League Soccer season.”

Beckham is England’s most capped outfield player with 115 appearances, and was bidding to become the first England player to feature in four successive World Cup finals. 1966 World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore and goalkeeper Peter Shilton have appeared in three along with Beckham.