Willian ruled out of Copa América final due to injury — report

Chelsea winger Willian has been ruled out of Sunday’s Copa América final against Peru with a “posterior right thigh” injury (i.e. hamstring).

Willian picked up the injury during the second half of Tuesday’s semifinal 2-0 win over Argentina, and apparently only finished the game because Brazil had run out of substitutions by then (Willian himself was one of those, arriving on the scene at half-time). That would normally suggest that the injury was perhaps just a knock. However, according to Globo, tests last night confirmed that the injury is severe enough to cause him to miss the final.

Willian himself was an injury replacement, getting a late call-up from head coach Tite to replace Neymar. He had featured in four of the five games, all as a substitute, picking up one goal and decent reviews.

Now he has a few weeks to rest and recover before joining back up with Chelsea, who will be knee-deep in preseason preparations by then.

Get well soon, Will.I.An!