'Heartbroken' Arsenal defender Timber ruled out of World Cup with groin injury

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has revealed he is "heartbroken" after being ruled out of the Netherlands' World Cup campaign with a groin injury, replaced by Lutsharel Geertruida. The 24-year-old had been sidelined since mid-March with the problem, but featured for 50 minutes in the Champions League final defeat to Paris St-Germain on 30 May – his first appearance since a 2-0 win over Everton on 14 March. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had declared Timber "fit" to play before that final, but the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said on Monday that the defender had "not recovered sufficiently" to take part in the tournament in a "medically responsible manner". Timber will leave the national team's pre-camp in New York after a friendly against Uzbekistan. In an Instagram post, he wrote: "Heartbroken to miss the World Cup. Representing my country on the biggest stage is something I've always dreamed of, and it's difficult to accept that injury has taken that opportunity away from me. While this isn't the path I had hoped for, I trust that God has a plan greater than the one I can see right now. Wishing the boys all the best. Make the nation proud!" Timber had been named in the squad alongside his twin brother Quinten, who plays for Marseille, but will now fly the family flag alone. The Netherlands face Japan in their Group F opener on 14 June before games against Sweden and Tunisia. Meanwhile, Brazil's Neymar has been given a World Cup boost after the Brazilian Football Confederation said he is making "good progress" in his recovery from a calf injury. The 34-year-old, who returned to Santos in early 2025, had a scan on Monday that showed "good progress in his treatment, within expected parameters". Neymar has missed Brazil's warm-up friendlies and faces a race to be fit for their opening group game against Morocco on 13 June. He has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances and hopes to appear at a fourth World Cup after featuring in 2014, 2018 and 2022.