Argentina goalkeeper Romero out of World Cup with injury

Argentina first choice keeper, Sergio Romero would not be on duty against Nigeria on June 26 at next month’s FIFA World Cup after getting injured with the two-time World Champions in training on Tuesday.

Romero who has been at the team’s training camp in  Buenos Aires since Monday suffered a joint blockage in his right knee that would require surgery according to a statement on the Argentina Football Association’s website on Tuesday night.

“Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero will be removed from the list of 23 players who will participate in the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” read the message which also stated that a replacement would be made in the coming days.

The 31-year-old who is Argentina’s most capped goalkeeper with 83 appearances was in goal when Nigeria lost to La Albiceleste at the 2010 and 2014 editions in South Africa and Brazil. Russia 2018 would have been his third World Cup.

Only on Monday he was one of the three goalkeepers named in Argentina’s 23-man final list with Chelsea’s Willy Caballero and Franco Armani.

Argentina open their World Cup campaign against Iceland in Moscow on June 16 before facing Croatia and Nigeria  in their last group match.