Argentina squad show support for Leonardo Balerdi after World Cup injury blow | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, a few hours before facing Algeria on Tuesday, Argentina's players and staff posed with a banner carrying Leonardo Balerdi's photo and the message "Leo, on est tous avec toi".

The show of unity came as the holders prepared to begin their World Cup defence. Lionel Scaloni and the entire group featured in the image.

Balerdi, the Marseille defender, had been named in the squad but withdrew in early June with a right calf injury. Marcos Senesi replaced him.

He responded on social media, saying waking up to the picture moved him, a message several team-mates reposted.

In his first fuller remarks since leaving the camp, he said the opening days were very hard after all his effort and his dream of being in the United States, and that missing a World Cup through injury was difficult to accept. He added that time helps bring perspective, and he wished his team-mates and all of Argentina the best for this special tournament.

Source: L'Équipe