It was a remarkable attempt for Charlie Davies to come back from a litany of injuries suffered in an October car accident.
He’s rehabbed, training and done everything humanly possible to get back on the field in time for June’s World Cup, but according to his club team, he’s set to miss out on the trip to South Africa.
It’s been a fantastic story line, but recovering from a broken leg, multiple facial fractures and a lacerated bladder was always a tall mountain to climb.
What’s interesting is, according to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, U.S. Soccer is denying the AFP and Sky’s report. A spokesman told Wahl that, “nothing has changed” in Davies’ status.
Could be an interesting few hours.
Stay tuned.
EDIT: Apparently, FC Sochaux is amending its thoughts a bit:
“Charlie’s situation is encouraging,” FC Sochaux athletic trainer Cédric Blomme said. “He makes progress everyday and that’s good. It keeps his hopes alive. We can’t say it’s impossible. It’s important for him and the team. The US Soccer Federation will publish a list with 30 players and maybe he will be on this list. We have to see how far he can come in his progress.
“No one on our medical staff or spokesman of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard have announced other information.”
EDIT No. 2: The New York Times is reporting that Davies himself refutes the story.
What’s going on in Sochaux, anyway?
“Whoever is saying these things is trying to take the confidence out of me and doesn’t want me to succeed,” Davies told the paper by telephone from France on Tuesday. “For me, it’s just more motivation.”
And to answer a question, Sochaux has no say on whether he accepts a call-up. FIFA by-laws require teams to release players for international play.
The rule reads: “The coordinated match calendar enumerates all those occasions (including the World Cup) when a club is compelled to release its players for international duty. As indicated in this circular letter, there is a list of dates reserved for qualifying competitive and for friendly matches, for which players selected to represent their national team must be released by the clubs holding their registrations.”
So, this looks to be far from the last we hear on Davies’ race to be ready for the World Cup.
