Injury-Stricken Mario Gomez Accurately Captures The Acute Heartbreak Of Missing Out On A World Cup In Open Facebook Letter

By Chris Wright

Italy Soccer Serie A

In an open statement published on his Facebook page and picked up by Bild, injury-ravaged Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez has written to his fellow German compatriots after missing out on inclusion in Jogi Loew’s provisional World Cup squad to wish them all the best in Brazil this summer.

Gomez writes:

“…and now the World Cup as well! After the league and cup final, I am also missing out on the World Cup. A call by the manager which hurts. Until recently I believed I could regain my fitness in time. But unfortunately, the injuries I suffered this year have thrown me back too far again and again and now it just was not enough – the ugliest of all my seasons ends with another throwback.

“Almost seven months of injury [lay-off was] simply too much. This angers me indefinitely. Yet, that is also part of sports – personal defeats. I will return, as I have done so often in my career. After Euro 2008 only a few had thought that I would almost be the top scorer four years later.

“But this also means that I will not break Ronaldo’s and Miro [Klose]’s goal record at World Cups ;-). I very much hope for Klose to break the record!! Do it Miro!!

“And much more importantly: this unfortunately means that I will not be there when the boys lift the trophy!! I have all my fingers crossed und want you to win with all my heart!!

“Now I will work on regaining my full fitness in order to perform next season and to help my club reach our goals and most importantly to start kicking the ball again.

“I want to thank my girlfriend, my family, friends, and all the physios, fitness coaches and doctors very much, which gave their all and everything for me during this very difficult season.

“And last but not least of course my supporters! The support you gave me despite the disappointment of not being able to play is just unbelievably impressive. You are the best! Grazie mille!!!!

You can almost hear the tears falling softly and smudging the ink on the parchment as he writes, quill quivering in his hand as Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ crescendos softly in the background.

“Tears stream, down your face…”

(Via Mario Gomez/Facebook)