Angel Di Maria Could Miss Rest Of Copa America

 

Argentina's Copa America Centenario hopes have been dealt a big blow with the news that Angel di Maria has a small adductor tear. The winger picked up the thigh injury in their 5-0 win over Panama and had to be replaced before half-time by Tottenham's Erik Lamela.

Di Maria is hoping to return before a potential final, should Argentina make it to the New Jersey date on June 26 but even that is unlikely, given these injuries usually take three weeks to recover from. He missed training on Saturday as he took tests on the injury.

The Paris Saint Germain star was Argentina's best player in the 2-1 win over Chile, scoring the first goal and setting one up for Ever Banega, before also laying on a perfect free-kick for Nicolas Otamendi to head home against Panama.  It continues the player's run of bad luck at major tournaments. Di Maria tore a thigh muscle during the 2014 World Cup in the Albiceleste's quarter-final victory against Belgium, before pulling up with a hamstring injury in the Copa America 2015 final against Chile.