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Groin injury forces Messi out of Venezuela qualifier
BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi’s triumphant Argentina comeback has been tempered by a groin injury that has forced his withdrawal from Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier
BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi’s triumphant Argentina comeback has been tempered by a groin injury that has forced his withdrawal from Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Venezuela.
Messi, who had gone back on his decision to quit the team following their Copa America final defeat in June, scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Uruguay on Thursday that sent Argentina to the top of the South American group.
However, he won’t travel with the team to Merida where they face Venezuela in another round of regional qualifiers, coach Edgardo Bauza said on Friday.
“He won’t be able to play, he has inflammation and still feels pain, we can’t take risks,” Bauza told reporters after training at the Argentine FA headquarters.
RAIOLA SLAMS KLOPP OVER BALOTELLI OUST
ROME: Mario Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola has blasted Juergen Klopp’s treatment of the former Liverpool striker, after he signed for Nice this week after leaving Liverpool on a free transfer.
“Mario has been exemplary, he never complained about training alone. To say that it was wrong of Klopp would be an understatement; he was a piece of shit about it,” he said.
REFEREES WORKSHOP COMES TO AN END
MUMBAI: The Indian Super League (ISL) Referee Workshop conducted by FIFA instructor, Ishiyama Noburu came to an end in Mumbai on Thursday.
A total of 26 AIFF match officials were trained at the workshop that focused on enhancing knowledge, application and interpretation of the laws of the game.
FORMER MADRID STAR RUBEN JOINS DYNAMOS
NEW DELHI: Delhi Dynamos FC have signed former Real Madrid player Ruben Gonzalez as their second marquee player.
Gonzalez, who was part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2001-2002, said: “Having played for most of my career in Spain and Germany, I am looking forward to playing in Asia for the first time.”
