Argentina lose defender Leonardo Balerdi for World Cup due to calf injury

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balerdi-leonardo/OYrb8EBS/"]Balerdi[/a] was named in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]‌Argentina[/a]'s 26-man squad last week ‌after consistent performances with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/marseille/SblU3Hee/"]Olympique de Marseille[/a], with whom ‌he made 36 appearances ⁠across ‌all competitions.[/p][p][b]"Defender ​Leonardo Balerdi suffered ​a muscle injury in ⁠the ​soleus of his right leg and ‌will not be able to be part of the squad that will play ‌the World ​Cup,"[/b] Argentina ‌said in a statement.[/p][embed guid="6c2400c1-0fd1-4034-827d-b46238b613fa" url="https://x.com/AFASeleccionEN/status/2063269546161504502" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Hang in there, stay strong, and get well soon."[/b][/p][p]Argentina have not announced a replacement yet for the 27-year-old centre back who has 11 caps. They play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/honduras/fP8cJrsS/"]Honduras[/a] in a ‌[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/honduras-fP8cJrsS/?mid=QgmZkEjC"]friendly match later on Saturday[/a].[/p][p]The ​defending champions will open ‌their Group J campaign against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a] on June 16 before facing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/naHiWdnt/"]Austria[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jordan/vNcmJoU2/"]Jordan[/a].[/p]