Angel Di Maria doubtful for World Cup final 2014 after Argentina midfielder pulls up in training with suspected thigh injury
- Angel Di Maria returned to training on Saturday night but pulled up with suspected thigh injury
- Real Madrid midfielder went off in quarter-final win against Belgium after injuring muscle and missed semi-final against Holland
- Alejandro Sabella: 'We have special things planned for him today'
- Argentina face Germany in World Cup final on Sunday at Maracana in Rio
Argentina were ready to implement a high-risk strategy and start with Angel Di Maria in the World Cup final - until the player pulled out of training with a suspected thigh injury.
Di Maria had to go off in the quarter-final win against Belgium after injuring his muscle and Argentina were desperate to add to their attacking options for Sunday’s final with Germany.
Manager Alejandro Sabella was eager to use Di Maria, a key player in the tournament so far, at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, but his plans may have been set back.
VIDEO Scroll down to see an Argentinian commentator in tears after Angel Di Maria scores
Training: Angel Di Maria (right) with his Argentina team-mates in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the final
Injury: Di Maria has been struggling with a suspected thigh injury and may be a doubt for the World Cup final
Watchful: Di Maria may not be in the World Cup final for Argentina after the latest blow in training
Di Maria had responded well to treatment all week and came through fitness tests on Saturday.
The Argentines were hopeful he would be able to start against the Germans, but pulling up in training will come as a blow to Sabella.
The Argentina boss said on Saturday: ‘We will see on Di Maria. We have special things planned for him. We will see. I'll have a better idea after we've trained.'
Di Maria, who has been undergoing stem cell injections to speed up his recovery from a torn thigh, is set to replace Enzo Perez if he can play.
Hopeful: Sabella says he will know more after Argentina assess Di Maria's injury ahead of Sunday night
Replacement: Sabella was likely to replace Enzo Perez with Di Maria if he could do so against Germany
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