as a 17-year-old in the Netherlands, his homeland, in

RIBEIRAO PRETO, Brazil - Frances team doctor has criticized Bayern Munich for the way the club handled a lingering back injury that ruled star winger Franck Ribery out of the World Cup. Ribery appeared to have made progress from a chronic lower back injury that had plagued him for weeks, only to be ruled out of the competition last Friday when he pulled up in training. It came just three days before France flew to Brazil, depriving coach Didier Deschamps of his most experienced player and most dangerous attacker. "When I examined him and we did tests with the X-ray and scans, I was very reassured. There was no reason why he wouldnt play in the World Cup," France doctor Franck Le Gall said Thursday. "We have some explanations for his pain. However, he didnt find a way ... we didnt find the way for his pains to cease or for him to play through his discomfort." Ribery, who has scored 16 goals in 81 appearances for France, made his last appearance of the season for Bayern as a substitute in the German Cup final win over Borussia Dortmund on May 17, when he came on in the first half and was substituted during extra time. Ribery had been rested following the 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the return leg of their Champions League semifinal on April 29, and Le Gall thinks it was too risky for Ribery to play in the Cup final less than three weeks later. "He was out for more or less three weeks and played a match which he probably shouldnt have played because he played through pain," Le Gall said. He said when Ribery joined up with the France team at its World Cup training camp he "was just as much bothered" by the injury as before. Bayern "didnt manage to solve the problem in (those) three weeks," said Le Gall, who estimated that Ribery should be ready to play by mid-August. Le Gall was asked if France had considered treating Riberys injury by injection. It was an option that appeared to be ruled out by the France teams medical staff, even though, Le Gall said, Bayern could be regularly treating its players with jabs. "Franck belongs to a club where for all pathological treatments — twisted ankles, bruising, muscle pains, contractions, tears — there are injections," Le Gall said. "There are 10 per pathology (injury), or 20, 25, 40 per year, or more. So there comes a time when, well ... he (Ribery) has had enough of injections. If for a moment we thought it could be solved that way, we didnt do it, because hes scared of injections." In other injury updates, France striker Olivier Giroud and centre half Laurent Koscielny were earlier cleared to take part in Thursdays training session after sitting out the previous days practice to have some physio treatment. Giroud had some tightness in his left hamstring and Koscielny, his Arsenal club teammate, has some tendinitis in his Achilles. "(Koscielny) has been carrying that for several weeks or perhaps a bit more. Hes played a lot of games this season," Le Gall said. "Hes in great shape but tendons in the Achilles are a bit sensitive. During the competition well probably rest him for one, two, or three training sessions so as not to make the situation worse." Mamadou Sakho has recovered from some bruising to his right knee. "He felt some pain and a kind of locking sensation," Le Gall said. "The scan was reassuring, and he trained normally (on Wednesday). He was more apprehensive than anything." All three players are expected to be ready when France opens its Group E campaign against Honduras on Sunday. While Koscielny is not certain to be selected by Deschamps, Giroud is expected to lead the attack. "Hes fine and we decided that he could take part in training," Le Gall said of Giroud. 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But he makes it crystal clear that, while Taylor warrants credit for dragging darts onto a mainstream pedestal and reaping rewards along the way, the bar has now been dramatically raised.Perhaps Van Gerwen, the current world No 1, plays with the freedom of knowing that he will never match Taylors astonishing 16 world titles, the majority of which were achieved in the drastically different landscape of the 1990s. No, its not possible to win more, or become the greatest ever, because I cannot win 16 world titles, the 27-year-old exclusively told Sky Sports. I will be retired before. No, its not possible to win more, or become the greatest ever, because I cannot 16 world titles. I will be retired before. Michael van Gerwen Van Gerwen first defeated Taylor as a 17-year-old in the Netherlands, his homeland, in their second head-to-head meeting. Tellingly, despite a total of 56 matches between them, Van Gerwen needs no reminding of the first time he beat Taylor.Correct, it was a big tournament in Holland, he said. I beat him in the group stage over there. I had a lot of confidence - I was probably the first one to beat him 3-0 in sets. The best Ive ever played - Phil Taylor pays tribute Live Grand Slam of Darts November 12, 2016, 1:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Even aged 17, was that the moment when Van Gerwen realised his eventual fate to overtake Taylor? He takes a long pause before answering. A very long pause as he tries to remember his less battle-hardened psychology.You think you can, but its not easy to change things around and actually be the best in the world. You get confidence, and try to play the best possible. I always believed in myself and you have to do that, otherwise you cant win something.Van Gerwen has grown into one of sports most recognisable figures - always clad in green, he stands as tall as a great oak yet, and despite his burgeoning personal brand, remains polite and jovial away from the oche. He even apologises to Sky Sports for keeping us waiting for just a few minutes. Thats hard to do, trying to become a winner. You first need to know what its like to lose before you can win something. Michael van Gerwen Did he learn the hard way on the BDO circuit as a teen prodigy? You learn to travel on your own, you learn to compete against people with a lot of experience which is hard to do. Thats hard to do, trying to become a winner. You first need to know what its like to lose before you can win something.dddddddddddd enjoyed it because, at that moment, it was a big thing. I was No 1 in the BDO rankings. It was good to start with but…. Van Gerwen pauses to search for the right words. It was only the beginning.Its worth remembering that the Dutchmans rapid ascent to the pinnacle of darts has overcome a major road-bump when even his most ardent followers considered that he might waste his talent. Michael van Gerwen beat Gary Anderson 5-2 to win the World Grand Prix title for a third time Of course I can remember, I had too many of them. I had moments where I was better than 90 per cent of the field, but I lost to 90 per cent of the field. You need to ask what am I doing wrong? Where can I improve? What can I do to change things around?I also had a couple of years like a beginner because I wasnt confident and I couldnt win a tournament. But you need to try and change that around. You need the confidence on your side, rather than the other way around. You need them to look up to you, not the other way around. If you look up to someone, you fear them. If you look up to someone, you fear them. Michael van Gerwen Van Gerwen is now the most feared player on the circuit, having just won a third successive European Championship plus the UK Open, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix. He is the reigning Grand Slam champion ahead of the tournaments restart, live on Sky Sports, between November 12-20.Asked if any other sportspeople match his iron grip over their chosen realm, Van Gerwen is fully aware of his own greatness: I realise that, and sometimes its a bit unbelievable what Im doing at the moment. You need to realise that because it makes you stronger. Sky Sports experts believe MVG still requires another world title Ronnie OSullivan, what he said about me in an interview with just a couple of words, was fantastic. He called me the greatest sportsman on earth, and thats a big compliment. Hes probably the most dominant snooker player, and the best of all time. He can hit a 147 with his right or left hand.But can Van Gerwen throw darts with his weaker hand? I cannot, so hes probably more special than me. Theres a few capable darts players descending on Wolverhampton this weekend that might disagree.Watch Van Gerwen at the Grand Slam of Darts, live on Sky Sports, November 12-20. 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