BUENOS AIRES, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Argentinean goalkeeper Sergio Romero says he still believes he could play at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, despite picking up an injury that saw him dropped from the Argentinian World Cup squad.
Romero, who has played at two World Cups, said that after having an operation on his right knee, he could be available during the World Cup.
"I was going to begin my rehabilitation. But the times are different, they wanted a goalkeeper who could train with them every day and they deselected me," he explained.
Speaking to TyC Sports from Barcelona, Romero says that it was "a very old injury," dating back to an operation in 2004, when he played for the Racing Club at the age of 17.
"A fragment of cartilage was loose in the knee and it had lodged itself in the back of the knee. It let me play championships in the Netherlands, Italy, France and England, I played two World Cups," he said.
Romero, 31, said that he received a knock from Diego Costa during a friendly with Spain on March 27, where Argentina lost 6-1. This "destabilized the knee" and worsened his pain. The goalkeeper, who has won 94 caps for Argentina, said he has no ill-feeling toward national team coach, Jorge Sampaoli.
"On the contrary. I hope all goes well with the team. I wish it (the team) well, not only because I have great friends there," he explained. Romero has been replaced in the World Cup squad by Nahuel Guzman, who plays in Mexico for Tigres UANL.
