Argentina play down Di Maria injury woe

Los Angeles (AFP) – Argentina played down fears over Angel Di Maria’s fitness after the Paris Saint-Germain star was hit by a new tournament injury scare.

Di Maria, who limped out of Argentina’s campaign at both the 2014 World Cup and last year’s Copa America, was substituted during Friday’s 5-0 win over Panama.

Argentina’s medical staff said Saturday the in-form winger had suffered a hematoma or bruising on his right hamstring but were optimistic he could yet play later in the tournament.

“Di Maria had a pain in his right hamstring at the end of the match,” an Argentina team medical official said. 

“Examinations revealed a small hematoma. He is responding well to treatment.”

Argentina have already qualified for the quarter-finals after Friday’s drubbing of Panama, where Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in 19 minutes.

They play Bolivia in their final Group D game in Seattle on Tuesday.