Ivan Franjic will return home to Australia after a hamstring injury ruled him out of the rest of the World Cup.
Australia defender Ivan Franjic will head home early from the World Cup after a hamstring injury sustained in the Socceroos’ 3-1 loss to Chile ruled him out of the rest of the tournament.
The Brisbane Roar player said he was bitterly disappointed that his World Cup dream was over.
“It’s obviously devastating, you work so hard to get to a World Cup and 50 minutes into your World Cup your dream is over,” he said.
“It’s disappointing, but the boys have my full support and I’ll be backing them 100 per cent all the way.
“I knew something went when I jumped in the air and I felt the hamstring. I felt a slight twinge but I thought there might be a glimmer of hope it was only a grade one (tear) and I would be back in seven to 10 days.
“But when I woke up the next morning I knew the World Cup was over.”
Despite dealing with a number of injuries in the lead up to the tournament, the 26-year-old said he was right to go for the Chile match.
“There were no problems whatsoever leading into the game, and then 50 minutes in my hamstring went and I looked back during the week where it could have gone wrong, and I just can’t pick a moment.”
Franjic now heads home to recover for the new A-League season with Brisbane Roar, where he will took to continue his good form and be selected in Ange Postecoglou’s squad for the Asian Cup in January.
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