Paredes Suffers Injury Blow Ahead of World Cup
Fresh injury blow for Argentina as their key midfielder Leandro Paredes suffers a setback ahead of the World Cup, with the tournament set to kick off on June 11.
Paredes sustained a hamstring tear which needs 2-3 weeks of recovery, according to Martin Arevalo [ESPN].
The Boca Juniors midfielder played an important match against Universidad Católica in La Bombonera in Copa Libertadores group stages. Multiple players , including Paredes and Edison Cavani, were pushed to the match with injury doubts, according to the same reports.
Hamstring Tear Raises Fitness Concerns
The medical examinations after the match confirms that Paredes suffered a hamstring tear . Paredes has been dealing with a hamstring injury since the Superclásico against River Plate last month, where he scored the winner and played for 90 minutes.
Paredes Remains Doubtful for Algeria Clash
ESPN has reported that the Argentine midfielder will miss friendlies against Honduras and Iceland, which are set to be played on June 7 and June 10 respectively. The presence of Paredes is in doubt for the opening match of Group J against Algeria on June 17 at 1:00 AM UTC (6:30 AM IST).
The former PSG midfielder was a key part of the World Cup-winning Argentine national team in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He netted a crucial penalty against France in the shootout in the World Cup final.
He is one of Lionel Scaloni's most trusted midfielders. This World Cup, Scaloni added Paredes to utilize his experience and defensive solidity in the midfield alongside younger midfielders including Enzo Fernández, Palacios, and Nico Paz.