|
NARAHA, Japan (AP) -- With three days until its opening game with Nigeria, Argentina has only one injury concern: Glasgow Rangers forward Claudio Caniggia. Team spokesman Andres Ventura said Thursday that Parma midfielder Matias Almeyda had recovered from a thigh strain and that Celta de Vigo midfielder Gustavo Lopez -- rested this week due to muscle fatigue -- was also in good shape. Lazio forward Claudio Lopez has recovered from a fever that kept him out of two friendlies on Tuesday against Japanese opposition. "With the exception of Caniggia, all the others trained on Thursday and are fit for selection," Ventura told the AP. "Caniggia did some work separately." Caniggia, 35, injured his knee in the Scottish Cup final earlier this month. He then suffered a reaction to the injury while training with the rest of the squad last Saturday. He hopes to have made enough progress to come into consideration for the later Group F matches, against England and Sweden. Initially, doctors had feared that the knee injury would rule him out of the World Cup. Ariel Ortega is now almost certain to start on the right wing for coach Marcelo Bielsa's side against Nigeria on Sunday. Argentina, joint favorite with France to win the World Cup, is seeking its third title. It won in 1978, in Argentina, and 1986, in Mexico.
|