Lionel Messi just lost a reliable goal-scoring partner on the World Cup pitch. According to a NDTV report, Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria will not be able to play for his home team in its semifinals match against the Dutch due to a thigh injury he incurred in the team's quarterfinal win over Belgium. Argentina Team doctor Daniel Martinez declared on Sunday that di Maria's injury obtained during the first half of the quarterfinal match indicated that he incurred a "first-degree" strain. Although it was a mild strain, his injury would still not clear him to play for Argentina, Martinez said.
NDTV said that losing di Maria was a problem for Argentina, who would be playing in the tournament semifinal for the first time since 1990. Di Maria has been the team's most influential players apart from Messi. The last time Argentina had reached the semifinals was in Italy 24 years ago. Argentina then made it to the final but succumbed to West Germany in a 1-0 loss.
Di Maria scored the decisive goal in extra time in the team's match against Switzerland in the second round, and was also crucial to Gonzalo Higuain's winning goal in the first half against Belgium on Saturday.
On the other hand, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has made some key changes to prepare itself from its match against the Netherlands, NDTV said. In its match against Belgium, Demichelis used Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis for the first time and had replaced Fernando Gago with Lucas Biglia. The sports outlet said the moves had increased Argentina's defense, with Biglia and Javier Mascherano dropping back to keep its early lead against the Belgians, securing themselves a victory in the process.
It would be no doubt that Demichelis would be using a similar lineup in its upcoming tournament match, now that di Maria is out. Demichelis said of the new lineup, "You always hope to play. I was showing a lot of heart in practice and tried to get to the place where I would get called up."
