Angel Di MariaThe 'Noodle' has broken again with Angel Di Maria injured during a third consecutive major tournament playing for Argentina at the end of a busy club season. "During the match against Panama, Angel Di Maria felt pain on the inside of his right thigh, with tests showing a minor tear in the adductor," the Argentine FA said in a statement on its website (www.afa.org.ar). Di Maria, who had scored his 17th Argentina goal in their opening 2-1 victory over Chile, came off before half-time in the win over Panama, having provided the cross for Nicolas Otamendi's early goal. Di Maria is one of Argentina's best attacking players and will be sorely missed in the knockout phase which Argentina have reached with a match to spare before their last Group D game against Bolivia in Seattle on Tuesday. Di Maria, nicknamed Fideo (noodle) for his thin frame, is out of the Copa America Centenario after a groin injury during Friday's 5-0 win over Panama in Chicago and unlikely to play again unless Argentina reach the June 26 final.

Source: Standard Digital June 12, 2016 11:48 UTC