Mauricio Isla and Jean Meneses ruled out by Chile for the match against Argentina due to the coronavirus

The coronavirus punishes the Chilean team just days before starting the double day for the Qualifiers on the way to the Qatar 2022 World Cup. This Monday, the Football Federation reported that Mauricio Isla and Jean Meneses tested positive. Both joined the case of Francisco Sierralta, reported last Sunday.

“In the PCR test for Sar Cov 2 of their entry into the country they presented a positive result, for which they will carry out the isolation period according to the instructions of the national health authority”says the medical report. “Both are asymptomatic and under the supervision of the team’s medical staff”, close the communication.

The marker and the winger are ruled out for the match against Argentina in Calama this Thursday the 27th. However, the newspaper La Tercera indicates that the technical command of Martín Lasarte is confident of having both elements with a view to the duel against Bolivia in La Paz del Next Tuesday, February 1.

There is another detail: Isla and Meneses, who will quarantine in the city of Santiago, have not been called off, as happened with Sierralta. The Watford footballer was even replaced on the roster of the senior team by the experienced José Pedro Fuenzalida from the Catholic University.

Chile, in advance, already knew that it could not count on Arturo Vidal. The midfielder was sanctioned by FIFA for the violent foul committed against Ecuador in the Qualifiers. Thus, the Inter Milan midfielder will encourage the team from Italy, just at the most decisive moment of the competition.

Chile and the coronavirus

Precisely, the ‘King Arthur’ did not appear in the contests of the first round against Argentina and Bolivia due to COVID-19. While Mauricio Isla had close contact with a confirmed case, so the soccer player did not accompany the delegation to the game against Paraguay in Asunción.

The ‘Red’ faces the first double date of the Qualifiers outside the zone that grants a chance in the repechage or to obtain the direct ticket to Qatar 2022. The cast led by Lasarte is in sixth place with 16 points, one less than Peru (fifth) and Colombia (fourth).