⚽ World Cup Turnaround Brings Injury Risk

The timing of this year’s World Cup has allowed no room for either error or mishap. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: There is nervousness when it comes to balancing the present moment and injury potential with the World Cup around the corner … Do the Colts have their quarterback of the future? … and more! Raphael Varane had friends close by, offering consolation and condolence, but the flow of tears wouldn’t stem. He pulled the neck of his jersey upward, to the bridge of his nose, defeated, deflated, unable to comprehend the cruelty of fate’s hand. This took place on Oct. 22, and moments earlier, as Varane – a defender for Manchester United and the France national team – lunged for the ball as Chelsea’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sped alongside him, he felt something pop in his knee. Just like that, one of soccer’s finest players was ruled out of the sport’s greatest tournament, hence the on-field tears. In that moment, his situation became the manifestation of a potential nightmare lurking in the minds of every athlete preparing for the World Cup, now just 17 days away. "You know what’s going on, you know where we are at and how close we are and you see the stuff that’s happened," Kellyn Acosta, midfielder for the United States national team and one of the men desperately wishing to avert the curse that struck Varane, told me on Tuesday. "It is a tense time." This Saturday, Acosta will take the field for LAFC in the MLS Cup final (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App), matching up against the Philadelphia Union in what will be the biggest game of his nine-year professional career. The biggest … until that distinction is bettered, a couple of weeks later, assuming he takes part in the USA’s World Cup opener against Wales at Al Rayyan Stadium in Qatar. Acosta is in a spot where there is only one correct course of action, but it is one that flies directly in contradiction to human nature. Top-level soccer allows for no quarter given, no holding back, no reservation, no caution. Namely, no such thing as playing to avoid injury. But try adopting such a devil-may-care attitude when the World Cup is all you’ve thought of these past months. Or if you’ve seen Varane – a four-time Champions League medalist and a 2018 World Cup winner – break down in front of tens of millions on live television. "For all of us the World Cup is a dream," Acosta added. "It is like a childhood dream and we are at a kind of countdown now. "But if you go into a game playing not to get injured, then more than likely you are going to get injured. You just can’t do that.” For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - Is Sam Ehlinger the [Colts QB of the future]( What's up with Indianapolis firing its OC? Ben Arthur takes a look at that and more. - The Nets are [making decisions]( without any sense of where they'll lead them, Yaron Weitzman writes. - Bryce Harper's elbow injury prevents him from playing the field. Because the NL adopted the DH, he's [making history]( for the Phillies in the World Series. Jake Mintz has the story. - With Weston McKennie now a [question mark for the World Cup]( the USMNT's midfield reserves might have to step up, Doug McIntyre writes. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET) Boston heads to Cleveland where Jayson Tatum and the Celtics look to avenge last week’s loss against Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers. Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies (FOX, 8:03 p.m. ET) José Altuve and the Astros look to even the series against Bryce Harper and the Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series. Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET) The Memphis Grizzlies look to end their two-game skid when they head to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( No. 24 Oregon State at Washington: Oregon State +4 From FOX Sports Analyst Geoff Schwartz: Oregon State’s team is defined by its defense — something no one expected to say about the bowl-bound Beavers. Oregon State has a veteran secondary that has routinely shut down opposing teams' passing attacks. USC only scored 17 points against the Beavers, and although Utah scored 42 points and had 361 yards against them, only 199 of those were through the air. The Beavers defense ranks 31st in overall passing success rate, and they force teams to throw underneath. As a result, they have a 5.7 adjusted air yards number, which is good for 18th in college football. This secondary will be important because they are playing a high-powered Washington passing attack. Washington’s passing attack ranks seventh in success rate. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has completed 68% of passes for almost 3,000 yards this season, with a 22-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. However, Washington has played two defenses that ranked in the top 50 (UCLA 46, Cal 41), and its offensive production was hampered in those games. Washington scored 32 points against UCLA, but 14 of those came in garbage time when the Huskies were down 24 points. I fear that Washington’s passing concepts will be too simple against this Beavers defense. The Huskies attempt too many throws outside the numbers, and better defenses like UCLA and Cal were prepared for this. Off a bye, Oregon State will also be ready. However, there is some caution. Washington’s struggles this season have occurred on the road, where they have lost two of three. This game is in Seattle at night and there's an expected forecast of rain and wind. The weather benefits the Beavers, but the crowd benefits the Huskies. Oregon State has struggled on the road this season, losing to Utah and needing the game's final plays to beat Fresno and Stanford. Nonetheless, I will take the Beavers to cover. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2022 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. 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