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Football

Santa Cruz sits out Paraguay dates


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ASUNCION, Paraguay (Reuters) -- Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz has been ruled out of this month's World Cup qualifiers with a muscular problem, team doctor Osvaldo Pangrazio said Tuesday.

Pangrazio said the Bayern Munich striker, who underwent knee surgery last September and is still waiting for a chance to return to the Bundesliga club's first team, suffered the problem during training in Germany.

"Roque is out of both matches," Pangrazio told the Asuncion daily newspaper Ultima Hora.

Santa Cruz's absence means Nelson Haedo Valdez, who plays for Germany's Werder Bremen, is likely to partner Jose Cardozo in attack.

Paraguay, who are fourth in the 10-nation South American World Cup qualifying group with 16 points from 11 games, are away to Ecuador on March 27 and home to Chile three days later.

They are attempting to qualify for their third successive World Cup.

Delgado blow

Argentina forward Cesar Delgado is unlikely to play in this month's World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Colombia after suffering a thigh muscle injury at the weekend.

"He will need two to three weeks before he can play again," Nicolas Zarur, doctor at Delgado's Mexican club Cruz Azul, told media on Tuesday.

Delgado played in the Argentina side which reached last year's Copa America final in Peru and also in the under-23 Olympics gold medal winning team in Athens.

Argentina, who lead the 10-nation South American World Cup qualifying group with 22 points from 11 games, are away to Bolivia in La Paz on March 26 and host Colombia in Buenos Aires four days later.

Delgado has scored seven goals in nine games for Cruz Azul, who lead Group Two in Mexico's Clausura championship with 20 points.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman has not yet commented on Delgado's injury.


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