No matter how positive you are, there's never a good time to get an injury.

This time of the season in a World Cup year is pretty much the worst of all for those holding out hope of being on the plane in June.

The latest casualty is Southampton and England's Jay ­Rodriguez. The Saints striker was playing his way into Roy Hodgson's plans and looking a good bet to be on the plane to Brazil. That was until ­Saturday afternoon when he was left clutching his knee and the shreds of his World Cup dream.

Rodriguez being ruled out came just days after another of the Premier League's exciting young forwards, Christian Benteke, was also confirmed to be playing no part this summer.

The list of those missing so far would walk into many ­starting lineups. World champions Spain will be without Victor Valdes, Alvaro ­Arbeloa and Thiago Alcantara. ­Italy's Guisseppe Rossi and ­Colombia's Radamel Falcao will also be missing. 

The list goes on and it's only going to get added to.

This is the business end of the season. The fight for trophies, safety or European ­places means that nothing can be left back in the locker rooms. Any injury is potentially World Cup-threatening, with recent knocks to Robin van Persie and Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading to national intakes of breath in the Netherlands and Sweden.

At least those who know they won't make Brazil can take ­solace in the fact they were hurt while actually playing soccer. Not all who have missed the World Cup have been so lucky.

Spain's Santiago Canizares missed the 2002 World Cup because of aftershave. The goalkeeper dropped a bottle and severed a tendon in his foot trying to cushion it. Brazil captain Emerson missed the same tournament after dislocating a shoulder while in goals during a training session. Fair enough, except he was a midfielder and Brazil went on to lift the trophy.

It can get even worse. England's Captain Marvel, Bryan Robson, was ruled out of the 1986 World Cup after aggravating a shoulder injury in the ­second game. Then at Italia '90, he missed England's run to the semifinals after trying to shift Paul Gascoigne from his hotel bed and dropping the frame on his toe.

You can't feel sad for World Cup dreams that end in the comical, avoidable and self-­inflicted. They get a whole month of watching the World Cup on the sofa.

The author is an editor with the Global Times. jonathanwhite@globaltimes.com.cn