Tottenham: Injured Spurs star handed new World Cup hope after squad announcement | OneFootball

Tournament chances have been hanging in the balance after season-ending setback

The Spurs defender was among the 55 names included by Albiceleste head coach Lionel Scaloni on Monday as part of a list submitted before FIFA’s official deadline for provisional squads.

Romero is currently sidelined with a left knee injury sustained during an accidental collision with team-mate Antonin Kinsky that occurred during the 1-0 Premier League defeat at Sunderland on April 12 - Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge.

He was subsequently diagnosed with a high-grade partial tear of his medial cruciate ligament (MCL) and expected to miss around eight weeks, ruling him out for the remainder of the season as Tottenham battle against relegation.

Injury blow: Cristian Romero was forced off in tears when Tottenham lost to Sunderland last month

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The injury appeared to leave Romero - who left the pitch at the Stadium of Light in tears - in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup, with competing nations having to submit their final 26-man squad lists by June 1.

Monday (May 11) was the deadline for provisional squad lists to be submitted, featuring between 35-55 players, including at least four goalkeepers.

Romero was included in holders Argentina’s provisional squad led by captain Lionel Messi, an official player pool from which any replacement would have to be sourced in the event that an injury occurs in the final 26-man group before the World Cup begins.

Argentina’s preliminary squad has a strong Premier League contingent, with Romero joined by Aston Villa duo Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi, Chelsea pair Enzo Fernandez and Alejandro Garnacho, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, and Nicolas Dominguez of Nottingham Forest.

Also included is Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni, who would miss the first two matches at the World Cup if selected in the final squad after his UEFA ban for verbally abusing Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match in February was extended worldwide by FIFA.

Argentina, who have also clinched back-to-back Copa America titles, won their third World Cup crown in Qatar in the winter of 2022, ending a 36-year wait for glory as Messi lifted football’s most prestigious trophy for the first time following a thrilling penalty shootout win in the final against France.

They finished top of South American qualifying for this summer’s expanded 48-team tournament in North America and kick off their defence in the Group J opener against Algeria in Kansas City on June 18, before then meeting both Austria and Jordan in Arlington, Texas.

Argentina will play Honduras in Texas on June 6 and Iceland in Alabama on June 9 in pre-World Cup warm-up friendlies.