Argentines Nicolas Gonzalez and Joaquin Correa, injured, forfeit

After the withdrawal of Senegalese player Sadio Mané, it’s Argentina’s turn to announce bad news. Argentinian strikers Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina) and Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan), injured, will not participate in the World Cup, the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) announced on Thursday.

“During practice today, Nicolas Gonzalez suffered a muscle injury and was removed from the roster for the Worlds. As a replacement, the Argentinian staff summoned Angel Correa”, Atlético Madrid striker, wrote the AFA on the selection’s Twitter account.

An hour later, the federation announced, still on Twitter, that Joaquin Correa was also going to leave the group, due to an injury, the nature of which has not been specified. A replacement for Joaquin Correa is to be announced soon, the AFA have reported.

“There are players who are not 100%”

On Wednesday, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he was considering making changes to his roster of 26 players, with several of them “not 100 per cent”.

“There are players who are not 100%. We have a few small problems,” Scaloni said after his team’s victory on Wednesday against the United Arab Emirates (5-0) in a friendly match played in Abu Dhabi. Four players, including Nicolas Gonzalez, did not take part in this match.

The regulations allow coaches to change players on their roster in the event of injury up to 24 hours before the first match. Argentina will start the World Cup on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia.


source site