Belgian captain Kompany often injury-prone, now out with groin strain before Russia game

Belgium's Vincent Kompany plays with the ball during a training session at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Monday, June 16, 2014. Belgium will play in group H of the Brazil 2014 soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/Bruno Magalhaes) (The Associated Press)

Belgium’s Vincent Kompany rests during a training session at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Monday, June 16, 2014. Belgium will play in group H of the Brazil 2014 soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/Bruno Magalhaes) (The Associated Press)

MOGI DAS CRUZES, Brazil – There is little not to like about Belgium defender Vincent Kompany at the World Cup. He has vision, poise and leadership — all the qualities teams look for in a captain. Well, there is one downside — he is injury prone.

So when all players bar one came cycling down to the training pitch, where was a sudden worry Belgium's World Cup campaign might not look so perfect after all. Kompany stayed up at the team hotel to treat a groin strain. With Sunday's game against Russia drawing near, alarm bells were quickly ringing.

Wilmots announced that the captain suffered from a "slight groin strain. He is working with the medical staff." Kompany is not one to sit out a training for trifling issues. During a World Cup qualifier he kept on playing with a broken nose and eye socket.