José Bosingwa Out for Season, World Cup

José Bosingwa's absence from Chelsea's right wing becomes more important with each passing match, but hopes for his return this season can now (unfortunately) end with the announcement that the Portuguese star will miss the remainder of the season.

Before getting into the details, let's stop to consider Bosingwa's impact.

When he moved from Porto to Chelsea at the beginning of the 2008-09 season, I was not convinced Bosingwa would make a big impact in the English Premier League.  I had seen him play for Porto and for Portugal and thought he drifting in-and-out of matches and felt he could be physically overmatched in the Premiership.

Thankfully, I was wrong.  With the help of his former national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Bosingwa's fit with Chelsea was seamless, far out-lasting Scolari's.  He has given an aging, slowing, stoic Chelsea team an element of dynamism, and the symmetry with left back Ashley Cole has been beautiful.

Without Bosingwa, Chelsea's worst characteristics have been exposed.  Now that the Portuguese has been declared out for the season, the Blues will have to dramatically adjust (rather than waiting for him to return).  They are not getting his width back.

Bosingwa will go in for another knee surgery, keeping him out of the rest of the season and this summer's World Cup.

With Chelsea up only one point on Manchester United (and three on Arsenal), this injury could be one of the small things the Blues point to if they're meeting this summer trying to determine what went wrong.

For Portugal, where there is little room between them and group-mates Côte d'Ivoire, Bosingwa's absence is also disproportionately important.

One of the best right backs in the world, Bosingwa's loss is also a hit for football fans, as is every injury.  I hope he returns healthy for 2010-11.