SOCCER: Netherlands' Xavi Simons to miss World Cup with ACL injury

A "heartbroken" Xavi Simons will miss this summer's FIFA World Cup for the Netherlands after tearing his right ACL in English Premier League action on Saturday.

The 23-year-old midfielder was carried off on a stretcher following a collision in the 58th minute of Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Simons posted on Instagram late Sunday that he will miss the last four matches of the regular season and the World Cup in North America.

"They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way," he said. "My season has come to an abrupt end and I'm just trying to process it. Honestly, I'm heartbroken. None of it makes sense. 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."

Simons has scored six goals in 34 appearances with the Netherlands' national team. He made his debut with the squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The Netherlands, No. 7 in the FIFA world rankings, are in Group F for the World Cup with Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. The Dutch begin play on June 14 against Japan in Arlington, Texas.

-Field Level Media/Reuters