MONTEVIDEO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — Central defender Jose Maria Gimenez and midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta have been ruled out of Uruguay’s World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Brazil due to injury, the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) said on Friday.
Gimenez strained an abductor muscle while Arrascaeta suffered a tear in his right quadriceps in Uruguay’s goalless home draw with Colombia on Thursday.
The AUF did not immediately name replacements for the pair.
Uruguay will meet Argentina in Buenos Aires on Sunday and Brazil in Manaus next Thursday.
The Celeste will also be without Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur for the clash against Argentina after he was suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Oscar Tabarez’s men are currently fourth in the South American zone World Cup qualifying group with 16 points from 10 matches.
