Giovani Lo Celso: Huge Blow to Argentina As Villarreal Playmaker Is Ruled Out of World Cup

• Reports have suggested that Argentina midfielder Giovani Lo Celso will miss the World Cup after tearing his muscle
• The news will come as a severe blow to Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who now heads to Qatar without one of his key players
• Argentina will lock horns against Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C at the tournament starting this month

Argentina have suffered a huge blow, with Villarreal midfielder Giovani Lo Celso set to miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup with an injury.

The 26-year-old suffered a muscle tear during his side's La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao last month, and he was expected to recover in time for the Mundial.

However, Football Espana reports that the former Paris Saint-Germain playmaker will now need to undergo surgery and will thus miss football's biggest global showpiece in Qatar.

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Lo Celso's absence is a big blow for La Albiceleste, as coach Lionel Scaloni has heavily relied on the left-footed player in midfield.

The on-loan Tottenham man was Argentina’s leading assist provider in World Cup qualification and formed a solid combo with captain Lionel Messi.

EA Sports backs Argentina

Meanwhile, popular video game company EA Sports has boldly predicted that Lionel Messi's Argentina will win the World Cup.

The company arrived at that conclusion after conducting a simulation using its latest version of popular game FIFA 23.

Argentina fans have every reason to take this as the gospel truth, because EA Sports correctly predicted the winners of the past three editions. The company predicted a Spain win in 2010, a German triumph in 2014 and French heroics four years ago in Russia.

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The 8 World Cup stadia

Sports Brief had earlier reported that eight venues would play host to the 64 matches to be played during the 2022 edition of the World Cup in Qatar.

The tournament is set to kick off officially on November 20, with the hosts curtain-raising against Ecuador.

All eight stadiums are ready, despite previous fears about the possibility of the venues not being ready in time. Construction of the facilities is understood to have started back in November 2015 in readiness for the prestigious tournament.