What impact will this long-term injury to a key Chelsea player have?

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The national team

Kurt Zouma was not yet at the stage of having nailed down a spot in the starting eleven for France, but he would definitely have been a strong contender had his form’s upward trajectory continued into the summer. As it is, Les Bleus will lose his youthful enthusiasm, physical prowess and terrific turn of pace that you have to feel would have been invaluable during Euro 2016 this summer.

Now though, I imagine that Mamadou Sakho is almost certain to start alongside Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane. Speaking as a Liverpool fan, I can only imagine the lengths to which Sakho will stretch for his nation, especially as he seems to be willing to disregard his own safety at times for an establishment which he need not have a deep emotional connection with. The hosts could do with every bit of assistance available to them this summer, in the position of having to overcome the weight of national expectation. However, they are fairly strong in the centre-half position, so I think that Zouma’s absence will be felt least acutely by his international side compared to others.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Aleksandr Osipov