The Argentine men’s national football team may be in trouble ahead of its World Cup Qualifier commitments in October. Captain Lionel Messi’s return was the only good news as, with clashes against Venezuela and Bolivia rapidly approaching, up to five players from head coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad could watch from the bench with injuries and a FIFA sanction.

So what’s next, and how can he keep Argentina’s blistering pace at the qualifiers — six wins from eight games so far — going?

The first Argentina star to drop from the squad was Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, who was suspended by FIFA for ‘offensive behavior.’

Then it was the turn of strikers Paulo Dybala and Nicolás González. The attackers suffered muscular injuries while playing for their clubs and were ruled out on Saturday.

The next player down was Marcos Acuña.........

© Buenos Aires Herald