KARL RITTER
Associated Press

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria has been ruled out of the World Cup semifinal against the Netherlands with a thigh injury while striker Sergio Aguero has been declared fit to play after recovering from a similar problem.

Di Maria limped off the field in the first half of Argentina’s quarterfinal win over Belgium after straining a muscle in the back of his right thigh.

Team doctor Daniel Martinez on Sunday said tests showed it was a “first-degree” strain — the mildest kind but added that Di Maria wouldn’t be fit to play in Wednesday’s semifinal.

Martinez said Aguero, who sustained a similar injury 10 days ago, had recovered in an “excellent” way.

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