Moscow June 23 (IANS) Argentina defenders Nicolas Otamendi and Gabriel Mercado and midfielder Lucas Biglia were absent from their national team s group training on Saturday due to injuries and did recovery work in the fitness centre.
Otamendi and Mercado who started in Thursday s 0-3 defeat to Croatia suffered blows to their right ankle reports Efe.
Biglia who was a substitute against Croatia was suffering from knee discomfort in Friday training according to Argentina s medical staff.
The three players worked out in the gym as coach Jorge Sampaoli began preparations for Tuesday s game against Nigeria.
After suffering a 1-1 draw and 0-3 defeat against Iceland and Croatia respectively Argentina which is at the bottom of Group D with a single point needs to win to qualify for the next round of last 16 of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

--IANS tri/vm