Manchester City’s Croatian defender, Joško Gvardiol, is set to undergo surgery this week due to a fracture in his right foot, just months ahead of the World Cup. This injury further weakens Man City’s defense, especially with manager Josep Guardiola confirming that Portuguese center-back Ruben Dias will be sidelined for up to six weeks due to a hamstring strain.
Speculation has arisen that City might target Crystal Palace’s captain and England center-back, Marc Guehi, who had a transfer to Liverpool fall through just before the deadline months ago. Both Gvardiol and Dias sustained their injuries during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, a result that leaves City trailing six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Despite losing these key defenders, the 2023 European champions are poised to qualify directly for the Champions League round of 16 in March. Currently, they sit fourth out of 36 teams, with two league matches remaining this month against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray.
Croatia will kick off their World Cup group stage against England on June 17 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, followed by matches against Panama in Toronto and Ghana in Philadelphia. Gvardiol is likely to miss Croatia’s friendly matches against Colombia and Brazil in the U.S. in March.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights the challenges teams face with injuries, especially as major tournaments approach. Gvardiol’s absence could impact Croatia’s performance in the World Cup, opening up a conversation about the depth and resilience of national teams and clubs alike.
