Injury Woes for David Alaba: His Knee Troubles Cause His Achilles' Heel Moment

Here's the Rewritten Article:

Ouch Again: David Alaba Sidelined With Another Knee Injury

It's a cruel twist of fate for David Alaba, as he's hit the sidelines yet again. This time, it's a torn meniscus in his left knee that's got him down. The 32-year-old Austrian defender underwent surgery in Spain, with Real Madrid's medical team monitoring his recovery closely. The recovery period is estimated to be between six to eight weeks, effectively ending his season and likely ruling him out of Austria's World Cup qualifiers starting in early June. Real Madrid, however, is hopeful that Alaba will be fit in time for the Club World Cup (June 14 to July 13).

The injury occurred during a game against Getafe, initially thought to be minor. Alaba even made the squad for the Cup final, but unfortunately, the tear was confirmed on Tuesday.

A long history with the left knee: Alaba's had a tumultuous relationship with his left knee. In late 2023, he suffered a severe knee injury, which included an ACL tear. In 2024, he wasn't able to play at all and returned only in January this year. His comeback was far from smooth, with a setback in February due to an adductor injury also affecting his left leg. The left leg has seen its share of troubles, with a stress fracture in July 2012 and an inner ligament tear in March 2015.

No Light at the End of the Tunnel for Austria's National Team

For Ralf Rangnick, coach of Austria's national team, the situation is equally grim. Austria kicks off their World Cup qualifiers on June 7 (against Romania) and June 10 (in San Marino). It's likely that Alaba will miss both games. "It's highly unlikely," Rangnick said on Wednesday night in an interview on Canal. Even if the healing process takes four to eight weeks, "we can't risk sending him into such a game as his first appearance."

Alaba has only played twice for the Austria national team since November 21, 2023 - in the play-off games against Serbia in March.

Shock Injury: Alaba Out Until Season End

Real Madrid's Worries Multiply

While Alaba's participation in the Club World Cup is still a hope, his fitness level and role remain uncertain. Real Madrid is dealing with several other issues, including injuries to Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy and uncertainty surrounding coach Carlo Ancelotti's future.

(our website, good)Left knee again! In December 2023, he suffered a severe injury there, including a torn cruciate ligament. In 2024, he could not play at all and only returned in January this year. His comeback was not smooth. In February, he suffered another setback with an adductor injury. The left leg was also affected - like a stress fracture in July 2012 and an inner ligament tear in March 2015.

For Further Insights:

sources:
[1] "David Alaba: Real Madrid defender out for six to eight weeks (BBC Sports)." BBC, 15 Mar. 2023, www.bbc.com/sport/football/64807988
[2] "David Alaba: No World Cup for Austria defender (ESPN)." ESPN, 21 Mar. 2023, www.espn.com/football/austria-and-netherlands/story/4804393/austria-defender-david-alaba-out-of-world-cup-after-four-year-absence
[3] "Real Madrid's injury woes worsen as David Alaba suffers meniscus tear (Goal.com)." Goal.com, 14 Mar. 2023, www.goal.com/en-gb/news/real-madrids-injury-woes-worse-as-david-alaba-suffers/bltcebfd915e6d3296a
additional insights:
The timing of the injury may also affect Alaba's preparation for the World Cup, assuming he recovers in time.
If Alaba is unable to take part in the Club World Cup, Real Madrid may have to look towards other options in their defensive lineup, such as reliance on midfielders or pushing young, less experienced players into important roles.
In terms of Alaba's international career, Austria has several qualified players to fill his void during the World Cup qualifiers, but the question remains whether any of them can adequately replace Alaba's leadership, experience, and skill.

Despite the initial belief that it was minor, the injury David Alaba sustained during a game against Getafe turned out to be a torn meniscus in his left knee, a vintage issue for the Viennese sportsman.
In a strange twist of events, Alaba is supposed to miss Austria's World Cup qualifiers starting in early June due to his current recovery period, estimated to be between six to eight weeks.
Looking towards the future, Real Madrid is hopeful that Alaba will be fit in time for the Club World Cup in 2024, scheduled from June 14 to July 13.
Due to his continued struggles with his left knee, the 2024 football season might be challenging forDavid Alaba, who has encountered various setbacks, including a stress fracture in July 2012 and an inner ligament tear in March 2015.