Argentina defender Balerdi ruled out of World Cup with calf injury

Argentina's World Cup hopes have been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of defender Leonardo Balerdi due to a calf injury. The 27-year-old center-back sustained a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg, ruling him out of the upcoming tournament.

Balerdi was a consistent performer for Olympique de Marseille, making 36 appearances across all competitions for the French club. His inclusion in Argentina's 26-man squad last week was a testament to his strong performances.

The Argentine Football Association confirmed the injury in a statement, noting that Balerdi will be unable to join the squad. As of now, no replacement has been named for the defender, who has earned 11 caps for his country.

Argentina is scheduled to play Honduras in a friendly match later today. They will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16, followed by matches against Austria and Jordan in Group J. Fans can watch all FIFA World Cup games live on FBC channels.

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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.