体坛英语新闻：Argentina coach waits for Messi to recover from injury

BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said on Friday that he is waiting to see if Lionel Messi, who is injured, will recover and be able to play against Paraguay on Sept. 10 in Asuncion, Paraguay, as part of the Brazil 2014 South American qualifying tournament.

Sabella, who returned to Buenos Aires after a trip to Europe, said Messi "had a blow two days ago, so depending on his recovery, he will or will not play."

"It is still very early to say," said Sabella referring to Messi's injury suffered in the Barcelona-Atletico Madrid league game.

The Argentine coach told local sports television channel TyC that the Barcelona star "suffered a contusion that caused him a bruise that the body normally 'reabsorbs' in one week."

Despite the injury, Sabella included Messi in the 18-player lineup made public on Friday for the game against Paraguay for a ticket for Brazil 2014 World Cup.

Sabella met Messi, Javier Mascherano and Gerardo Martino in Barcelona. He also met in England with Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and the coach of both players in the Manchester City, Chilean Manuel Pellegrini.

Argentina leads the South American qualifying tournament with 26 points, three more than Colombia. Argentina will face Paraguay in Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asuncion, to play the 15th of the total 19 scheduled matches.

There are four tickets for Brazil 2014 for South American teams, while the fifth one will be decided with an Asian team.