Netherlands face a fresh World Cup injury scare after Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons was stretchered off with a suspected serious knee problem.
The Netherlands may have been handed another major injury concern ahead of the upcoming World Cup after Xavi Simons was stretchered off during Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Simons went down in visible pain following a challenge with Wolves defender Hugo Bueno, immediately clutching his knee and calling for medical attention. The seriousness of his reaction left both teammates and fans fearing the worst.
🚨🇳🇱 Xavi Simons (23) was taken off the pitch with a stretcher after sustaining an injury in the match against Wolves. 🏥
With the World Cup in less than 50 days, this doesn’t look good. 💔 pic.twitter.com/OmuvEuVT7Q
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 25, 2026
Although Tottenham’s medical staff initially allowed the midfielder to continue after on-field treatment, it quickly became clear he could not carry on. Moments later, he was taken off on a stretcher.
While the club has yet to confirm an official diagnosis, early concerns suggest the Dutch international may have suffered a serious knee problem, with fears of possible anterior cruciate ligament damage.
That uncertainty is troubling news not only for Tottenham but also for Ronald Koeman, who is already dealing with several injury issues as he prepares the Netherlands squad for the World Cup, now just weeks away.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi offered a cautious update after the match, explaining that doctors still need more time to properly assess the injury. He did note, however, that Simons felt slightly better after the initial incident.
Even so, the possibility of a lengthy layoff remains a worrying scenario. A serious ligament injury could sideline the midfielder for months and potentially rule him out of the tournament entirely.
