SOCCER: Netherlands and Tottenham's Simons to miss World Cup after knee injury

Tottenham Hotspur and Netherlands midfielder Xavi Simons said on Sunday that his season has “come to an abrupt end” after suffering a serious knee injury that is expected to rule him out of the World Cup.

Simons was injured during Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. He left the pitch on a stretcher in the 63rd minute after appearing to injure his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), according to early reports.

“They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way,” the 23-year-old wrote in an Instagram post. “My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken… All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me… along with the World Cup. Representing my country this summer… just gone.”

Simons had been expected to play a key role for Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman in what would have been his second World Cup appearance, following his debut in 2022. The midfielder has earned 34 international caps, with his most recent appearances coming in friendly matches in March.

The injury is also a significant setback for Tottenham, who are enduring a difficult Premier League campaign. The North London club currently sit 18th in the standings with 34 points, just two points above the relegation zone. -Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman/Reuters