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Messi tries again as Argentina face Paraguay [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
Asuncion (Reuters) - Teenage striker Lionel Messi, sent off after less than two minutes of his Argentina debut last month, is hoping for better luck in Saturday's World Cup qualifier away to Paraguay.
The 18-year-old has been included in the squad and is expected to get another chance, at least as a substitute, during a match which is effectively a friendly for Argentina, having already qualified for Germany.
"This is a re-debut," Messi told reporters after a training session in Buenos Aires. "The first one was a bit short."
Messi came on in the 63rd minute of Argentina's 2-1 win in a friendly in Hungary on August 17, but was almost immediately sent off for elbowing Hungarian defender Vilmos Vanczak, who earned a yellow card for pulling Messi's shirt.
Argentina, who lead the 10-nation South American qualifying group with 31 points from 15 games, guaranteed their place at next year's finals with three games to spare by beating Brazil 3-1 in June.
Paraguay, meanwhile, will take a huge step towards their third successive finals if they win at the Defenders of the Chaco stadium.
The Paraguayans, needing a top four finish to qualify directly or fifth place to play off against the Oceania region winners, are currently fourth with 22 points, two ahead of Colombia and Chile.
DECISIVE GAME
Paraguay have never beaten Argentina in a World Cup qualifier, although the last three meetings have ended in draws.
"Our wish is to beat Argentina for the first time and make some history," said German-based forward Nelson Haedo.
"This is a decisive game for us because if we win, we are virtually in Germany."
Coach Anibal Ruiz is hopeful that Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz, originally ruled out of the match with a thigh strain, will play after making a quicker-than-expected recovery.
If so, he will join either Haedo or Mexican-based Salvador Cabanas in attack, as veteran Jose Cardozo, Santa Cruz's regular striking partner, is injured.
"It will be difficult but not impossible," said Italian-based midfielder Carlos Paredes.
Argentina have injury problems with strikers Hernan Crespo and Luciano Galletti and midfielder Javier Mascherano all out.
However, this is unlikely to worry coach Jose Pekerman, who enjoys shuffling his team -- often too much so for Argentine critics.
"Paraguay are tough at home and it will be an intense match with both teams wanting to win." said Pekerman.
Probable teams:
Paraguay: Justo Villar; Denis Caniza, Carlos Gamarra, Julio Caceres, Jorge Nunez; Edgar Barreto, Roberto Acuna, Carlos Paredes, Julio Dos Santos; Nelson Haedo, Salvador Cabanas.
Argentina: German Lux; Fabricio Coloccini, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Heinze; Pablo Zabaleta, Luis Gonzalez, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Pablo Sorin, Juan Roman Riquelme; Cesar Delgado, Lisandro Lopez
Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil)
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