Michael Essien is ruled out of the World Cup (BBC)

He's been told he will not fully recover from his existing injury before the end of July.

Absolutely f**king gutted for him. There is a slight silver lining to this, in that he should be fully fit for us next season, but either way it's terrible news :)

Common sense is the winner. They rushed him back for the ACON which was an awful decision. Now he has just less than 3 months to get himself ready for the 10/11 season.

Is he really out?? It's very sad news for Ghana... :)

A. Bad news for him but good news for us, our luck he'd just re-injure his knee on duty.

B. Serbia has to be favorites for 2nd place now in Group D.

A. Bad news for him but good news for us, our luck he'd just re-injure his knee on duty.

B. Serbia has to be favorites for 2nd place now in Group D.

They always were. Finished group winners ahead of France didn't they? They're a very good team.

A. Bad news for him but good news for us, our luck he'd just re-injure his knee on duty.

I have to disagree. If you remember after his last injury, it took a while for Ess to get back to his former self and get the football flowing again (which he found and was awesome again). The World Cup would have been perfect for him to start fresh and ready for us next season.

They always were. Finished group winners ahead of France didn't they? They're a very good team.

I rate Serbia very highly and am not looking forward to the England / Serbia game, but I guess they are the clear-cut favorites right now to advance from that group, along with Germany. I think that a full-strength Ghana, on African soil, would've given them a run for their money, so I was a little hesitant on my predictions I made awhile ago, but I nevertheless had Serbia going through.

Theres no way there Ghana win now.....sorry.

He needed to be fit by the end of the season for this not to be the best outcome for us, as someone already mentioned he was rushed back for the ACN and it was a terrible move (for us and him), regrettably -and it's really harsh on Ess and Ghana- but this is the best thing that could have happened. A bit of rest time, then a good solid pre-season and we get our Essien back.

I have to disagree. If you remember after his last injury, it took a while for Ess to get back to his former self and get the football flowing again (which he found and was awesome again). The World Cup would have been perfect for him to start fresh and ready for us next season.

He is always returning stronger!

He needed to be fit by the end of the season for this not to be the best outcome for us, as someone already mentioned he was rushed back for the ACN and it was a terrible move (for us and him), regrettably -and it's really harsh on Ess and Ghana- but this is the best thing that could have happened. A bit of rest time, then a good solid pre-season and we get our Essien back.

Could not agree with you more. Who was that dummy who said that there is a slight silver lining in it for us -- Bloody hell, there is a huge silver lining in it for Chelsea, and I have no respect for Ghana who rushed him back too soon and got him reinjured due to their idiocy.

I have no respect for Ghana who rushed him back too soon and got him reinjured due to their idiocy.

You can't force a player to play. If Essien said he feels well and he's ready to play, would you say no if you were Ghana's manager? Honestly?

You shouldn't blame Ghana... He is fundamental player of his national team.

I really feel sorry for him and for Ghana who has now lost a very, very important player.

To think, this all started with a slightly minor injury that would only take a month to heal. Really unlucky season for him.

But, to look on the bright side, maybe he can fully heal now and get some rest and then come back next season better than ever.

Still, would like to have seen him at the World Cup.

Karma.

Bad news for the World Cup. Essien and Ballack out. Two great footballers. I wish them both speedy recoveries. Looking forward to them returning to the Bridge, fit and well, for next season.

Gutted for Essien, but I see the blessing in diguise as he will have the whole summer to get fit for Chelsea. I have no sympathy for Ghana national team, Essien was clearly unfit at the time and they rushed him for ANC, and it wasn't even a final or semi final match. Essien still has at least 1 if not 2 WC left in him, as far as his his ambition goes, it's no worry.

Damnit! Poor guy. ;) What a disappointment this has got to be, for the first World Cup on African soil

Gutted for Essien, but I see the blessing in diguise as he will have the whole summer to get fit for Chelsea. I have no sympathy for Ghana national team, Essien was clearly unfit at the time and they rushed him for ANC, and it wasn't even a final or semi final match. Essien still has at least 1 if not 2 WC left in him, as far as his his ambition goes, it's no worry.

Considering the Ghana National youth teams have been doing phenominal, I think Essiens chances of future WCs is very promising!

Gutted for Essien, but I see the blessing in diguise as he will have the whole summer to get fit for Chelsea. I have no sympathy for Ghana national team, Essien was clearly unfit at the time and they rushed him for ANC, and it wasn't even a final or semi final match. Essien still has at least 1 if not 2 WC left in him, as far as his his ambition goes, it's no worry.

I agree. f**k Ghana, those damn bar stewards nearly cost us the Premier League title by forcing Essien to go to the ACN while injured and then getting seriously injured, and they can just f**k off.

Edited May 27, 201016 yr by Phillip

A. Bad news for him but good news for us, our luck he'd just re-injure his knee on duty.

B. Serbia has to be favorites for 2nd place now in Group D.

They are my pick to go far, my sleeper team.

However, it is great news for us!

I agree. f**k Ghana, those damn bar stewards nearly cost us the Premier League title by forcing Essien to go to the ACN while injured and then getting seriously injured, and they can just f**k off.

Essien is important, but we're not a one man team and I'm still not convinced he was forced to do anything. I reckon he wanted to play in ACN and if Essien wanted to play, I'm sure every manager in the world would include him in the squad.

Edited May 28, 201016 yr by Maksimov

Guess it helps Australia a bit....but devastated for Essien.

Essien is important, but we're not a one man team and I'm still not convinced he was forced to do anything. I reckon he wanted to play in ACN and if Essien wanted to play, I'm sure every manager in the world would include him in the squad.

OK. Essien isn't the only one, but he is fundamental player of Ghana. They were weak at ACN without him...