Argentina's Injury Problems Continue
Argentina are already dealing with fitness concerns surrounding the fitness of Leandro Paredes and Gonzalo Montiel for the World Cup, while Nico Paz is on track in his recovery to appear for the opening match against Algeria, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The injury problems continue to mount for Argentina, as Leonardo Balerdi is ruled out for the World Cup, sustaining an injury in training ahead of the friendly match against Honduras, reports Nacho Rivarola.
The report suggests that recovery time for the player will be at least 1 month, but the type of injury is still unknown to the media.
Scaloni Loses Trusted Defender
Leonardo Balerdi is one of the preferred players by Scaloni in the defense for big matches of Argentina. Scaloni’s trust in Balerdi is the reason why he left out Marco Senesi from the World Cup squad even after being a standout defender in the Premier League.
Now Scaloni has multiple options in the reserves to pick a player for Balerdi, including Marco Senesi, Kevin Mac Allister, Lucas Martinez Quarta, and German Pezzella.
Senesi Emerges as Leading Candidate
From an editorial perspective, Marco Senesi is more likely to replace Balerdi in the World Cup squad with his quality and experience in the center back role.
After leaving Sensi's name off the World Cup squad, fans had mixed reactions to the decision because he was a key part of AFC Bournemouth's finish in a European spot in the Premier League under Andoni Iraola. The player was wanted by multiple top European clubs before agreeing to a 4-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur.
Scaloni Issues Fitness Warning
Argentina's injury concerns do not end with Leonardo Balerdi. In a press conference ahead of a friendly against Honduras, Lionel Scaloni stated that “Today, we have the feeling that the guys are doing well, but we are completely sure that if anyone does not meet the minimum availability, they will be left out." "We are clear on that.”
The Argentine coaching staff have decided to leave injured players out of the squad after observing their recovery till 10th June.
Standby Players Remain on Alert
Argentina's coaching staff have already alerted several standby players, including Emiliano Buendía, to remain available should further injuries force late changes to the squad.