Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-03-16 14:50:18
Paulo Dybala will be unable to participate in Argentina’s upcoming friendly matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica due to a thigh injury, which was announced by his club Roma on Saturday. The forward sustained a “small tear” in his right thigh during training on Friday, forcing him to miss the two matches in the United States.
The national team will face El Salvador in Philadelphia on March 23 and Costa Rica in Los Angeles four days later, with Dybala’s absence being a setback for Argentina’s squad. In addition, the 30-year-old will also be sidelined for Roma’s Serie A fixture against Sassuolo on Sunday as they aim to secure a spot in the Champions League for next season.
Roma currently occupies the fifth position in the league, trailing behind Bologna by six points. Despite this, there is hope that Italy may receive an additional spot in the Champions League due to the strong performances of Italian clubs in European competitions this season. This could potentially mean that finishing in fifth place would be sufficient for Roma to qualify for next season’s revamped Champions League.
Dybala has been in impressive form since the start of the year, scoring 10 goals and providing one assist in various competitions. Roma is set to face AC Milan in the quarter-finals of the Europa League next month, highlighting the significance of Dybala’s absence for both his club and the national team.
Overall, Dybala’s injury is a setback for Argentina and Roma, as he will miss crucial matches at a crucial point in the season. However, his absence also provides an opportunity for other players to step up and make an impact in his absence. Both teams will need to adjust their tactics and strategies to cope with the absence of Dybala, as they aim to achieve success in their respective competitions.
