Argentina Squad Like a “Mini Hospital”

The Argentina national team has begun their camp after arriving in Kansas City.

With just eight days remaining before the start of the World Cup, a cloud of concern has settled over the Albiceleste camp. Among the 26 players named by head coach Lionel Scaloni, at least nine have arrived at the base camp carrying injuries or various physical issues. Despite the challenging situation, the coaching staff remain confident that all players will recover fully before their opening World Cup match against Algeria on 16 June.

Among the injured players, Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada, and Nico Paz began training normally on the very first day. Álvarez suffered an ankle injury during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal. Although he returned after receiving an injection for the second leg, he missed the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Almada and Nico Paz, both dealing with muscle strains, are showing steady improvement. A major positive in the second training session in Kansas was the return of key defender Cristian Romero. He had suffered a knee ligament injury while playing for Tottenham, and his emotional exit from the pitch had raised serious concerns among fans. However, he has recovered quickly and is now ready to rejoin Scaloni’s squad. He may even feature briefly in Tuesday’s friendly against Iceland.

Captain Lionel Messi had also raised alarms after leaving the pitch with a hamstring injury in his final match for Inter Miami. The injury initially shook the entire Argentine camp. However, medical tests confirmed that it is not serious, and there is no doubt about his participation in the World Cup. Still, the coaching staff do not want to take any risks with him. As a result, he may be rested in Saturday’s friendly against Honduras and could play only a short period in the match against Iceland. Alongside Messi, right-back Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes are also being considered for minutes in the Iceland game.

However, the biggest concerns remain goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez and defender Gonzalo Montiel. Martínez suffered a crack in the ring finger of his right hand during warm-ups ahead of the Europa League final. He is currently wearing a splint and bandage. Although his participation in the World Cup is not in doubt, he may be kept on the bench as a precaution in the opening match against Algeria.

Meanwhile, Gonzalo Montiel suffered a Grade-2 tear in his left quadriceps during a match against Rosario Central on 16 May. He is currently the most at-risk player in the squad in terms of fitness. Similar to previous tournaments, such as when Nicolás González and Joaquín Correa were dropped at the last moment due to injuries before the Qatar World Cup—Scaloni may take a strict decision if Montiel is not fully fit. However, the coaching staff still believe he could recover in time for the opening match. The growing injury list ahead of the World Cup presents a significant challenge for Argentina.