Pezzella to miss Argentina football friendlies

Buenos Aires : Argentina centre-back German Pezzella has been ruled out of the Albiceleste's upcoming friendlies against Mexico with a leg injury.

The 27-year-old Fiorentina player strained his left hamstring while training with the national squad in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said in a statement, reports Xinhua news agency.

The AFA did not immediately say if a replacement would be named.

Argentina will meet Mexico in Cordoba on Friday before facing the same opponents in Mendoza four days later.

Argentina will again be without their record scorer Lionel Messi, who requested an indefinite break from international football following the World Cup in July.