The left back of the Costa Rican National Team, Ronald Matarrita, will miss the 2018 World Cup due to a muscle tear, and in his place, defender Kenner Gutierrez has been called up, the Costa Rican Football Federation announced from Saint Petersburg.
The official medical report says that the New York City player suffers "a grade one injury to the right hamstring, where he has a previous injury in the same area," detailed the Federation in a press release.
The recovery period is estimated to be at least two weeks, so coach Óscar Ramírez decided to replace the player with Kenner Gutierrez, a defender from Alajuelense, who will have to travel to Russia 2018 in the coming hours.
"Gutierrez will join the team's concentration on Saturday, June 16 in the city of Samara, prior to the match on Sunday against Serbia," said the Federation.
Ronald Matarrita is the first injury absence suffered by Costa Rica since the coach revealed the list of players called up.
The left back position has been regularly occupied by Bryan Oviedo, who plays for Sunderland in England, so Matarrita was projected as a substitute and even as an alternative to play further forward as a winger in case of a more offensive approach.
Source: EFE