In The Absence Of Messi .. Iraq Faces Argentina In The Int'l Quadripartite Football Tournament In Saudi

BAGHDAD (NINA) - The international quadripartite football tournament will kick off tonight in the Saudi capital of Riyadh with the participation of Iraqi, Argentine, Brazil and Saudi Arabian. Iraq and Argentina play at 8:30 pm in today evening at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Malaz, central Riyadh, at the opening of the International Quartet. Lionel Scalloni, the coach of Argentina, revealed the reason for the absence of the big star Lionel Messi, from the tournament , which starts today in Riyadh. "Messi is not ready, so he has not been called up," Scalloni told a news conference yesterday, in the coming period, we will decide." The Argentine coach confirmed the readiness of his team to face Iraq today, after the completion of the arrival of players yesterday, and their participation in the exercises. Iraq will meet its Saudi counterpart next Monday in the 15th of this month in a pure Arab Classico which both sides will benefit in preparation for the Asian Nations Cup which will be held in the UAE in January next year. The Greens will play with Brazil on the 12th of October at the King's University Stadium Saud also in Riyadh. On Tuesday 16, we will have the strongest Classico in South America, when Brazil and Argentina clash at the Jawhara Mushiaa (Radiant Jewel) Stadium in Jeddah. The four-nation friendly tournament , which brings together Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Argentina and Brazil, is part of FIFA's international agenda./ End