The race for the World Cup semifinals is being shaped as much in treatment rooms as on the training pitch. With five matches already in the legs - several of them extended by extra time and penalties - the physical toll of a gruelling North American summer tournament is being felt at the sharpest end of the competition. Managers across the draw are waiting anxiously on fitness reports before finalising starting XIs for the biggest games of their careers.
It is the nature of a tournament at this stage that every squad carries its walking wounded, a reality that touches the game's biggest names. Debates around the physical demands placed on elite players at major tournaments have grown louder throughout this competition, and as cancelo defends ronaldo neymar world cup criticism illustrates, the scrutiny on ageing stars navigating these gruelling schedules has never been more intense. For now, though, the immediate concerns are concrete and medical.
France and Morocco: One Doubt, One Confirmed Absence
The Foxborough quarterfinal on July 9 between France and Morocco carries its own injury subplot on both sides of the tie. For Les Bleus, Aurélien Tchouaméni is the man in the balance. The Real Madrid midfielder was forced to leave training ahead of the round-of-16 fixture against Paraguay, missing that match entirely as Manu Koné deputised alongside Adrien Rabiot in central midfield. Didier Deschamps offered cautious optimism on Wednesday, confirming that Tchouaméni "feels better" and could return to training, while adding that all other squad members are available. Whether Deschamps can call on his first-choice pivot against Morocco will go a long way to determining France's defensive solidity in what promises to be a tight, tactical affair.
Morocco, meanwhile, must plan without Ismael Saibari. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed the absence at his pre-match press conference, stating plainly: "Everyone is available, except Ismael Saibari. This match comes a bit too soon for him." The new Bayern Munich signing had been one of the tournament's standout performers, netting in each of Morocco's three group stage matches before limping off in the 22nd minute of their round-of-16 win over Canada, replaced by Soufiane Rahimi. The nature of the injury has not been disclosed, but Ouahbi's phrasing suggests it was considered close - not ruled out weeks ago. Losing a player of Saibari's momentum at this stage is a genuine blow for the Atlas Lions.
Spain Counting the Cost of a Brutal Group Stage Finale
Spain's preparations for their July 10 quarterfinal against Belgium in Los Angeles are overshadowed by the injuries both Yéremy Pino and Nico Williams sustained in the final group match against Uruguay on June 26. The scale of the double blow is difficult to overstate. Pino landed awkwardly after a fall, fracturing his collar bone and leaving the stadium in a sling. Luis de la Fuente was unequivocal about the severity: "The worst thing is the huge pain we feel with Yéremy, who could miss the rest of the World Cup." Williams, meanwhile, suffered a right adductor injury in the same match. He called it "one of the worst days of my life" and has not featured in either of Spain's knockout games since, with Álex Baena stepping in at left wing against both Austria and Portugal. La Roja have continued to advance, but the absence of two natural wide attackers of that calibre narrows their attacking options against a physically imposing Belgian side.
Belgium Lose Onana; England's Tuchel Sweating on Three Players
Belgium head into that same Los Angeles quarterfinal carrying their own catastrophic injury news. Amadou Onana will play no further part in the tournament after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the 4-1 round-of-16 win over the United States. Team doctor Brahim Hacene described the diagnosis as "devastating news, both for him personally and for the team," and confirmed that the Belgian federation and Aston Villa will collaborate on the midfielder's treatment and rehabilitation pathway. The prognosis also casts a long shadow over Villa's 2026-27 Premier League campaign, with a significant absence likely to follow.
England's situation ahead of their July 10 quarterfinal against Norway in Miami Gardens is less dramatic but broader in scope. Reece James, Marc Guéhi and Declan Rice all missed the squad's group training session on Wednesday in Kansas, each completing individual programmes. James has been managing hamstring soreness since the 0-0 draw with Ghana and is already a concern given Thomas Tuchel's limited options at right-back. Guéhi went the full 90 minutes in the 3-2 round-of-16 win over Mexico; Rice played the full match too, having also filled in at right-back against Congo DR - a game after which he admitted to battling "terrible pain." Jordan Henderson has also been flagged with an arm fracture. Tuchel needs several of these players fit and available to contain Norway and Erling Haaland, making the next training sessions critical before the Three Lions name their side.
Information from ESPN's Tom Hamilton, Rob Dawson and Alex Kirkland was used in this report.
