Australia defender Patrick Kisnorbo is set to miss the World Cup after injuring his Achilles playing for Leeds United against Millwall on Monday.
The 28-year-old buckled in pain after only six minutes of his side's 2-0 defeat by Leeds' promotion rivals.
Leeds boss Simon Grayson said: "He picked up a severe Achilles injury which will rule him out for the rest of the season and probably the World Cup.
"It is a huge blow for Paddy - he's been a real warrior this season."
Kisnorbo, who has won five Australia caps, had been expected to be named in Pim Verbeek's Socceroos squad for South Africa.
His injury comes a week after former England captain David Beckham was ruled out of the World Cup with a similar injury.
Years | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
1998 | France | Brazil | Croatia |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
1990 | Germany | Argentina | Italy |
1986 | Argentina | Germany | France |
1982 | Italy | Germany | Poland |
1978 | Argentina | Holland | Brazil |
1974 | Germany | Holland | Poland |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | Germany |
1966 | England | Germany | Portugal |
1962 | Brazil | Czech | Chile |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | France |
1954 | Germany | Hungary | Austria |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
1934 | Italy | Czech | Germany |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | America |