Franck Ribery to miss 2014 World Cup: A blessing in disguise?

After a truly brillaint first half of the season, Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery missed most of the second half of the season with varying ailments.

But none have been more insidious then the back injury he sustained in April that will now force him to miss the entirety of the 2014 World Cup.France head coach Dider Deschamps has said that "He is not capable of training for a few weeks, let alone playing a game." Ribery was training when he pulled out complaining of further back pain. An MRI has confirmed that the injury was a re-aggravation of the same back injury in April.

While a huge blow for France, this is a blessing in disguise for Bayern Munich fans. A June spent resting and healing, preferably on the shores of the Mediterranean(or Rio!) is just what the doctor should have ordered for Franck Ribery considering the chronic injuries plaguing him the past 6 months. With the World Cup in full swing come next Thursday and Bayern Munich training camp not starting until well into July, the 31-year-old Frenchman now has 6+ weeks to focus on his health and fitness.