Weekend Quiz Answers: Who Were Those Injured Players

By: Laurie | March 8th, 2009

First, if you haven’t yet taken our quiz on players who’ve suffered serious injuries, stop by this post and make your guesses, then come back here for the answers.

Last week’s quiz was so challenging that I made this one a little bit easier, both with the players I chose and the photo cropping. (Plus I found some really high-quality photos, too, which helps. I’m pretty sure it’s no coincidence that the player nobody guessed was the one with the worst photo quality.)

Eleven out of the twelve players were guessed, and “eros miranda, juve” was again our overall winner with 11/12 correct guesses. And an honorable mention to “Jatin” for picking up 9/12 right before “eros” responded.

Player 1

Michael Essien, Chelsea

Michael Essien is just now returning to action after injuring his knee back in September. He was expected to be out for the season, but he’s battled back and may actually start this week against Juventus. Congratulations to Hawk, first to see Essien.

Player 2

Kaka, AC Milan

Ricky had surgery in the off-season to correct a longterm knee injury. The biggest losers in this were Brazil, who struggled in World Cup qualifying without him. Congrats to Johonna, first to guess Kaka.

Although I have some questions about her guess, which was: “Hmmm, is 2 Kaka or maybe Boriello? He somehow strikes me as a Milan player.” Makes me wonder what identifies a Milan player. A little scarlet M tattooed on their eyelids, maybe?

Player 3

Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich

Franck’s injury was the “Oh, dammit, so much for France taking more than one point from all of Euros” ankle injury in the game against Italy. Hawk was also the first to see Ribery.

Player 4

Francois Clerc, Lyon

Clerc was taken out for most of Lyon’s season this year with a serious knee injury. He just returned to action this week. And of course the first person to recognize his “porn stache” was our Lyon blogger Inara.

Player 5

Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona

I don’t see Messi in these eyes, but maybe I just don’t watch enough Barcelona games. Congrats to Hawk again, first to see Lio.

Player 6

Alberto Aquilani, AS Roma

Or as Chris refers to him, “Aquilinjury.” For his longterm injury? Pick one and you’ll probably be right. (Chris thought I should make you guess from photos of the injured body parts. And for Aquilani, that would probably be a full-body shot.) Congrats to moka, first to see Aquilani.

Player 7

Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal

Out for four-ish months with ruptured knee ligaments suffered in December. Recent news is saying he’ll be back in four weeks.

Hurry back, Cesc! Arsenal need you! Congrats to Keano, first to see Fabregas.

Player 8

Eduardo, Arsenal

Nobody got Eduardo. I blame my photo and my crop job, because he’s an obvious one for the quiz.

Eduardo’s injury? If you don’t remember, you were in Antarctica with no TV or internet connection when it happened.

It was the horrific ankle break that took him out for a year, from which he’s only recently recovered. (If you’re into gruesome injury videos and photos, feel free to google. I’m not, so don’t expect them from me. Because…ick.)

He recently returned from that injury, scored a goal…and injured his hamstring. But he was back this weekend and scored again, so let’s hope the worst is over.

Player 9

Vedad Ibisevic, Hoffenheim

With Ibisevic, Hoffenheim rose to the top of the Bundesliga. After two months without him, they’re now third. Any questions?

(And worse, his torn knee ligaments occurred in a friendly. As they say, with friends like these…)

Congrats to keke, first to see Ibisevic.

Player 10

Fabio Cannavaro, Real Madrid

Right before Euros, Canna is the Italy captain… And then his knee is destroyed in practice and he has to miss the competition altogether. Tough guy George Chiellini, who caused the injury, reportedly broke down in tears when he heard the news.

Congrats to Mike, who got Fabio in the first guess.

Also, go back to the original set of photos. Does setting Ibisevic’s eyes on top of Canna’s mouth make anybody else think “Tom Cruise”?

I know. I’ve just creeped myself out too.

Player 11

Michael Owen, Newcastle

What’s the most recent injury for perennially crocked striker Michael Owen? (No offense to Owen, but google “Michael Owen injury” and you’ll see what I mean.) An ankle injury that’s had him out since January. He promises to be back soon to help drag Newcastle out of the relegation zone.

Congrats to Keano, first to see Owen

Player 12

Freddie Ljungberg, Seattle Sounders FC

This one is not so much an injury as surgery to correct niggling injury. Freddie had hip surgery after signing for Seattle so he could arrive, fit and ready to play, as close to the beginning of MLS season as possible.

Congrats to Alex, first to see Freddie.

(What’s that, you say? He has gorgeous eyes in that photo? Really? I hadn’t noticed.)

That’s it for this week. Thanks for playing, and tune in next weekend for more!