| (Associated Press, 3/15/10) -- David Beckham will miss the World Cup and most if not all the Los Angeles Galaxy season after tearing his left Achilles' tendon Sunday (3/14/10) while playing for AC Milan. His international career for England is all but over. "He will miss the World Cup for sure," a person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The person said it was likely the 34-year-old midfielder will play again. Bidding to become the first English player to appear in four World Cups, Beckham was injured without getting hit during AC Milan's 1-0 Serie A win over Chievo Verona. With only a few minutes remaining and the score 0-0, Beckham was by himself with the ball, shifted his weight and reached a hand down to his left heel. Beckham then stood up and snapped his wrists like he was breaking a twig in half in a gesture to show the AC Milan bench he knew the tendon was broken. Visibly in pain and in tears, Beckham went to the sideline for medical attention, leaving Milan a man short because all three substitutes had been used. "He felt the muscle begin to come up, which is a typical symptom when you break an Achilles' tendon," Milan coach Leonardo told Sky. "This is a real blow.'' Sky reported that Beckham said, "It's broken, it's broken,'' when he came off. Club doctor Jean Pierre Meersseman told Italy's Sky TV that Beckham will fly to Finland, where he will be treated by specialist surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava. "He'll go to Finland tomorrow and will be operated on probably tomorrow afternoon or Tuesday morning," Meersseman said. While Beckham has not been a starter for England in recent matches, he was likely to make the World Cup roster as a reserve. He had 17 goals and 115 appearances, second in English history behind only goalkeeper Peter Shilton's 125. "He'll probably be out for five or six months," AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani told Sky. "I saw him really suffering. In the changing room I hugged him and told him that if he wants he can join us next year, too." Sunday's win moved Milan within one point of league leader Inter Milan with 10 games remaining. |
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