If Paraguay wants to claim a spot in the World Cup’s knockout stage, it will have to do so without Miguel Almirón.
The Atlanta United man was sent off in first-half stoppage time for covering his mouth while speaking to Türkiye defender Mert Müldür during Friday night’s Group D match in Santa Clara. It’s the latest turn in what’s been a rather eventful World Cup for Almirón, who was shown a yellow card against the United States last Friday after VAR ruled he had committed a dive in an attempt to draw a foul.
Here’s video of the red-card offense:
This is a new rule introduced by FIFA in April, following Vinicius Jr. facing racial abuse from Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match. Prestianni, who covered his mouth while addressing the Real Madrid star, was handed a six-match ban.
Almirón will now miss Paraguay’s final group stage match against Australia in Santa Clara on Thursday. And it comes at a bad time for La Albirroja, who led Türkiye 1-0 through Matías Galarza’s opener in the second minute. If Paraguay end up dropping points, it isn’t eliminated from knockout stage contention, but it will need a win over Australia and some help.
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Feel sorry for him, but he’s his own worst enemy right now. Hopefully he can get the WC pressure out of his head and come back a better version of himself.
Almiron has really embarrassed himself in the World Cup. First, he gets the yellow for the pathetic dive he took in the US match, and now this red. I’ve lost a lot of respect for him.
He was having a good game before he got sent off. Miggy effed up for sure but that rule should have been phased in w/ yellows. That lousy CONCACAF ref was quick to whistle the play dead which ending up leading to the red card.
Should have said whatever he wanted to say in Guarani – the opponent never would have understood it.
A horror show of a WC for Almirón.