Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria celebrates.
Angel Di Maria is working hard
on his fitness for the chance to play a part in Argentina’s Copa America
Centenario final against title holders Chile on Sunday after bad luck
in two previous finals.
Di Maria, nicknamed 'Fideo' (noodle), is desperate not to
lose out on the East Rutherford showcase after missing the 2014 World
Cup final through injury and having to come off after half an hour of
last year’s Copa America decider in Chile.
“All I want is to be able to play the final. The last two, I
couldn’t, let’s hope this is the definitive one,” said Di Maria, who
scored Argentina’s first goal of the tournament in a 2-1 group stage win
over Chile.
Di Maria was told after his injury against Panama that he would only
likely play again in the tournament if Argentina reached the final.
In what has been an impressive tournament for Lionel Messi’s
Argentina, the wing position normally occupied by Di Maria has been
jinxed.
“Today we can say that Di Maria is better physically than Nico
Gaitan,” coach Gerardo Martino told reporters naming the new Atletico
Madrid player who played on the left wing in the 4-1 quarter-final win
over Venezuela.
Gaitan is nursing a leg muscle strain he sustained against Venezuela
and Ezequiel Lavezzi has no chance of playing at the Metlife after an
elbow injury during the 4-0 semi-final win over hosts the Unites States
in Houston.
Should none of these players start the final, the left wing position
is likely to go to Erik Lamela, who has scored twice in the tournament.
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