Messi ruled out of Venezuela qualifier

Buenos Aires, Argentina striker Lionel Messi will miss Tuesday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Venezuela with a groin problem, national team coach Edgardo Bauza said on Friday.
“Unfortunately, he won’t be able to play. We can’t take any risks. We spoke with the doctor and it’s the sensible thing to do. It must be treated, we must take care of him,” Bauza said at the team’s training base in Buenos Aires.
Messi made a triumphant return after his short-lived international retirement by scoring the winning goal in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Mendoza.
The result moved Argentina to the top of the 10-team South American qualifying group after seven of 18 matches. The top four teams will automatically qualify for the 2018 finals in Russia.
Costa Rica, Panama advance to final round
Costa Rica and Panama secured their spots in the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup on Friday with victories over Haiti and Jamaica in Group 2. The pair join Group 1 winners Mexico in the next round along with Trinidad and Tobago from Group 3. Mexico ended El Salvador’s hopes with a 3-1 win.
The United States will almost certainly join them after demolishing St Vincent and the Grenadines 6-0.
The first two teams from each of the three groups qualify for a round robin stage. The top three from that ‘Hexagonal’ qualify automatically for Russia while the fourth-placed side goes into a playoff with a team from the Asian confederation.
Costa Rica secured their place with a 1-0 win over Haiti, Randall Azofeifa’s spectacular volley after 72 minutes giving his side the win. Honduras beat Canada 2-1 in the group’s earlier match in San Pedro Sula.
Panama have never reached the World Cup Finals before.