Argentina lose defender to calf injury ahead of World Cup

Argentina lose defender to calf injury ahead of World Cup

Argentina and Marseille central defender Leonardo Balerdi has been ruled out of the World Cup with a calf injury, the world champions announced on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has suffered a muscle injury in his right leg and will miss the World Cup, the Argentine federation announced on social media, wishing the player a speedy recovery.

Balerdi, who had hoped to play in his first World Cup, posted a photo of himself training with the squad in Kansas City on social media on Friday.

Argentina have not yet named a replacement.

Argentina face Honduras late on Saturday in a warm-up match in College Station, Texas.

They will kick off their tournament on June 17 against Algeria in Kansas City.

AFP