Khedira Suffers "Severe" Knee Injury

Sami Khedira may be facing a long time on the sidelines after suffering what looks to be a "severe" knee injury while on national team duty for Germany's friendly with Italy. Real Madrid seem to be the victims once more of the 'FIFA Virus,' in a more serious repeat of the injuries to Marcelo and Coentrão this fall and Marcelo last year.

The 26-year old midfielder was carried off the field on a stretcher after a collision with Italy and Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo in the 67th minute of Friday's match. Although no reliable information on the injury will be available until imaging studies are performed, both Real Madrid and Germany do not appear to be optimistic.

ESPN has some doom and gloom quotes from the Germany squad, while AS has a video of the incident, which looks quite serious. The impact is directly into the side of Khedira's knee, and he falls to the ground immediately, clearly in a great deal of pain.

Hopefully there is no ligament damage, and Khedira will not face as long a recovery as it seems, but the prognosis is fairly grim.

More from Managing Madrid:

• Pursuing Balance With Luka Modrić
• Bernabeu Bites, 11.15.13: Six Merengues trying to qualify for Brazil's World Cup 2014
• Cristiano Ronaldo's FIFA Ballon D'Or Profile Is Unacceptable