Buzzin Football

As he was stretchered from the pitch during Sunday’s game with Chelsea, Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen must have thought his World Cup dream was over. The initial diagnosis was a broken elbow – an injury which I imagine is both as serious and painful as it sounds.

However, x-rays revealed that the joint had been dislocated rather than fractured and although in most cases this would have been cold comfort for the Denmark goalkeeper, the diagnosis means he once again has a chance of making the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

The doctor treating Thomas Sorenson was able to manipulate the joint back into place without recourse to surgery and while this might have been painful, it means his recovery time will be much shorter than if he’d had to go under the knife

Denmark fans, and of course the man himself, will no doubt be breathing a sigh of relief. He is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and it’s hard to envisage Denmark being able to find an adequate replacement. Betting site odds for the side would have no doubt lengthened had he been ruled out. Of course, no football team is built around one man, but having a top player between the sticks makes a massive difference.

In the group stages especially, one or two great saves can spell the difference between a draw and a win, something that could ultimately influence whether a side qualifies for the knockout stages.

Although Denmark are relative outsiders in the fixed betting odds, with their best players available they could still cause an upset or two.

Of course, Sorensen isn’t out of the woods yet. He has very little time to prove his fitness and with such a tight schedule facing him even a fairly minor setback would ruin his chances of making the tournament.

As good as he is, it would be crazy for Denmark to risk taking a half fit goalkeeper. It would fill up a valuable squad place and at a World Cup no team can afford to carry dead weight.