Argentina Dealing With Fresh Concerns
Lionel Scaloni faces a growing injury headache ahead of the football World Cup, with multiple players battling for fitness before the defending champions begin their title defense.
Earlier Emiliano Martinez and Cuti Romero had injury issues, but as per the latest reports, both are ready to appear in blue and white against Algeria in the opener.
According to Hernan Castillo, within the Argentine camp, Nico Paz, Gonzo Montiel, and Leandro Paredes are dealing with injury issues, and their World Cup participation is in doubt.
Buendía Kept on Standby
The Argentine coaching staff informed Emiliano Buendía to postpone his vacations and be ready for the World Cup if Nico Paz is unable to recover from the injury sustained against Hellas Verona in Serie A.
Perrone and Capaldo Ready to Step In
Maxim Perrone and Capaldo could provide cover for Leandro Paredes and Gonzalo Montiel. They are already training with the Argentina national team and are expected to feature in the friendly matches ahead of the World Cup.
Nico Paz Emerges as Major Concern
Nico Paz’s fitness is emerging as Argentina's biggest concern ahead of the tournament because he is a trusted midfielder of Lionel Scaloni after his impressive performance with Real Madrid and Como.
He had an excellent season with 12 goals and 5 assists in Serie A and is expected to be one of the breakthrough stars in this World Cup. The medical team of Argentina will closely monitor Nico Paz's fitness till June 10 before taking any final decision.
Race Against Time Before World Cup
However, Scaloni is unlikely to take unnecessary risks with injured players, leaving Paz, Paredes, and Montiel in a race against time to secure their places in the squad.