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With Neymar's vertebral fracture rocking not only Brazil but the whole world followed, by Angel Di Maria too being derailed from the 2014 World Cup, Let’s have a look at previous incidences in World Cups which have rendered superstars unable to continue their dream.

1. Alessandro Nesta's disappointment in 2006

Considered a lynchpin for the Italian defense heading into the 2006 World Cup, Alessandro Nesta found fate against him as he aggravated an injury to his groin while participating in his team's final group game against the Czech Republic at the World Cup in Germany. However it didn't hamper Italy's chances as they famously won the coveted trophy. Not only this but Nesta's stint at the World Cups has always been marred with injuries, as was seen in the 1998 and 2002 editions.

2. Buffon goes bust taking Italy with him – 2010

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The 2006 World Cup champions had high hopes of defending their title in the 2010 iteration but their hopes went up in flames as they failed to even get out of their group. Gianluigi Buffon was supposed to lead the charge but he played a grand total of 46 minutes as he was substituted with a hamstring injury in the first match against Paraguay. Italy went on to draw with New Zealand while the final group game ended in acrimony with a loss against Slovakia, all but guaranteeing their exit.

3. Michael Owen on his way out – 2006

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Michael Owen who had hardly played after breaking his metatarsal against Tottenham while plying his trade for Newcastle United, however recovered in time to put himself on the flight to Germany as part of the Three Lions team. However hopes turned to despair even before a ball was kicked in England's opener against Sweden when Owen's knee collapsed. That was an end to his World Cup as he was found to have ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. This kept him out of action for the unfortunate Newcastle for almost a year as he only returned to action in April, 2007.

4. Patrick Battiston is brutally sent out – 1982

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Now we need to go into the pages of history as we travel back in time to the 1982 World Cup in Spain to what is now called the Tragedy of Seville. In the semi-finals, France was to take on West Germany. Patrick Battiston was played through on goal by a defense splitting pass from Michel Platini. The German goalkeeper, Harald Schumacher came out of his line and even though Battiston was first to the ball, followed through with a terrible shoulder charge and then calmly stood on without remorse. It was so severe that Platini thought he was dead finding had no pulse.

It was found that Battiston had cracked his verterbra, had three broken ribs and lost two teeth. The referee did not even award this as a foul. France who were at one point leading 3-1 went on to lose this on penalties after extra time.

5. Pele fails to take centrestage – 1962

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After being a revelation in 1958, scoring six goals and winning the Silver Ball and taking Brazil to their first ever World Cup triumph, 1962 was supposed to be Pele's World Cup as he was widely regarded the best player in the world at that time. In the first match against Czechoslovakia, Pele was in tremendous form as he assisted a goal and then scored a brilliant one, dribbling past three defenders to make it 2-0. However this was supposed to be the last hurrah for Pele in Chile, as he was injured while attempting a long range strike and sat out the entire tournament.

Brazil did eventually go on to win their second World Cup in a row with the magnificient Garrincha leading the way.

Source: goal.com