Saudi striker blames German medics for World Cup absence

SAUDI ARABIA super striker Talal Al-Meshal has accused German doctors of deliberately releasing false information about his fitness so he would be left out of his side’s World Cup squad.

Al-Meshal is regarded by many observers as Saudi Arabia’s brightest young talent.

The quicksilver forward was the team’s top-scorer during qualification for the World Cup but sustained a knee injury playing for his club Al-Ahly, plunging his participation at the finals into doubt.

The 23-year-old claimed he would be fit in time to take his place in the side competing against Germany, Cameroon and the Republic of Ireland in Group E.

However, medical reports from the German physiotherapists treating him suggested he would need an operation.

"It was a pure conspiracy by the Germans to kick me out of the race for selection," fumed Al-Meshal.

"When they became aware of my status as one of the star players throughout the qualifiers, they issued many contradictory medical statements about the possibility of knee surgery, putting our technical staff in complete chaos.

"When the manager finally revealed his 23-man list for the World Cup, I said to myself: ‘They have succeeded in excluding me from the competition’.

"Now I am going to a clinic in Paris and I expect to hear that my knee has healed after all."