The countdown to the World Cup is full of enthusiasm and anxiety in the fans. And also, of tension and hope on the part of the players. Such a series of injuries is not accidental. The legs do not give any more with the busy schedule and the clubs will squeeze their chances to the maximum. To the long list of nurses who care Lionel Scalloniyesterday joined Giovani Lo Celso, who closed the game against Athletic Bilbao with a sore hamstring right hamstring.

It was 24 minutes into the first half when the Villarreal midfielder, under pressure from Mikel Vesga and Yeray Alvarez, pulled a cue and felt a puncture. He took the back of his right thigh and although he tried to stay on the pitch, at 32 he threw himself on the grass at the San Mamés stadium and asked Quique Setién to change. He was replaced by Manu Trigueros and activated the alarm signal on Ezeiza’s property.

For Scaloni, the rosarino is a key piece of the midfield which he usually shares with Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul. Only 23 days after his debut in Qatar, this situation worries only the Argentine coach. If it were a tear, which cannot be ruled out and which will only be known today after studying medicine, it could reach the duel against Saudi Arabia on November 22 with just enough.

The former Rosario Central, Betis and Tottenham player arrived in batting for this clash in Bilbao. Without going any further, in recent weeks he had been excluded from Setién’s calls due to recurring muscle aches. On Thursday he was back to add minutes with Villarreal in the Conference League. On that day, Yellow Submarine drew 2-2 with Hapoel Beer Sheva. Then, in the second half, Lo Celso came in for Axel Baena and played 20 minutes with no signs of injury.

“Lo Celso noticed some hamstring discomfort. He is waiting for the tests that will determine what he has, “Setién said at a press conference, after his team’s defeat in San Mamés (Iñaki Williams’ goal).

On Thursday, Guido Rodríguez suffered from hip pain in the match Betis beat Lugodorets (1-0) in Bulgaria and did not participate in the away match against Real Sociedad (2-0 win this Sunday; Germán Pezzella was an appetizer). While Ángel Di María would be ready to return this week after a right hamstring tear, Leandro Paredes is making progress in recovering from a torn left thigh. He still has 14 days left for him to heal.

paolo dibala, meanwhile, has undergone special treatment and a routine that he devotes five hours a day to after suffering a left leg quadriceps femoral injury. At the time of the injury it was assumed that he would recover for a month, but the Roma forward is working with kinesiology sessions and the application of platelet-rich plasma.

Dibu and Musso, good news

Scaloni was also concerned when Emiliano Martínez had to leave the pitch in the 35th minute of the first half against Newcastle. Dibu suffered a blow to the head and was replaced by Swede Robin Olsen, who conceded all four goals in the Aston Villa defeat.

Yesterday the goalkeeper used social networks to communicate that the clash with teammate Tyron Mings, who received a push from Callum Wilson, “was just a scare”, as he reported on Instagram. The knee left the number one groggy.

Dibu recorded: “Thanks everyone for the messages. It was just a scare and I’ll be ready for the next game. ”The man from Mar del Plata accompanied the publication with a photo with his eldest son, Santiago, both thumbs up.

Meanwhile, Juan Musso returned to Atalanta’s goal with a Zorro mask. The goalkeeper had suffered a severe blow to the face at the start of the match against Roma on 18 September. A few days later he was operated on for reduction and containment with plates and screws for a displaced fracture of the right orbital / maxillary complex, the Italian club reported.

The number one reappeared in Bergamo and was able to play the entire match in the 2-0 victory over Empoli, as a guest. There was also a barbaric save, purely reflexive, at the end of the duel, which could have complicated the outcome of Atalanta, who are still waiting, five points behind leaders Napoli.

Musso is one of six goalkeepers who are playing for a place at the World Cup in Qatar. And just when the fight seems fiercer, he is back to fight in the last stretch of the season.

Dibu Martínez is not only the owner, but also an undisputed fixture on Scaloni’s paycheck. Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal) and Franco Armani (River) are back.

It seems that it does not come out of these three names, apart from the fact that Musso himself and the Agustini, Rossi (Boca) and Marchesín (Celta de Vigo) still retain the illusion.

As for the big section of the list of 26 players, Juan Foyth, Enzo Fernández, Exequiel Palacios, Dybala and the Correas (Angel and Joaquín) compete for the four odds in which there is some doubt. In this sense Foyth is starting to run after the left knee injury that stopped him for a month and a half. If the alumni get on the plane it will be for their versatility in defensive positions, something that the coach of the national team appreciates a lot.