Argentina

Spain were pegged back by Germany for a 1-1 draw on Friday but Argentina – without Lionel Messi due to injury – fared far worse than the reigning world champions. 

Diego Costa put Spain in front, Marco Asensio then adding his second assist of the game by setting up Isco, although Nicolas Otamendi headed one back for Argentina before the break.

That proved a mere consolation for the visitors at the Wanda Metropolitano, though, with Isco on target again shortly after the restart to put Spain in total control.

After battling through qualifying, Jorge Sampaoli's men are not considered among the strong favourites for Russia 2018.

However, Riquelme – who was capped 51 times by the national team – believes Argentina could contend if Messi performs, having been drawn in Group D alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.

"We hope that we do well, that the players get well and above all Messi," the Argentinian told El Trece.

"If the latter happens, Argentina will have many chances to win. If Messi is good, nothing is complicated.

The three countries' presidents announced the plan in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, although the bidding process will not begin for several more years.

The 2030 World Cup will mark the centenary of the tournament, which first was held in Uruguay in 1930.

In June, Uefa said it would "strongly support" either a pan-British or an English bid to host in 2030.

"The first meeting [for the bid preparation] will be organised in the first week of November," Paraguay's president Horacio Cartes said.

The hard-working All Blacks first five-eighth, who has started all eight tests in 2017, was originally slated as one of six players to sit out the trip to Buenos Aires for the Rugby Championship clash against Argentina.

But that plan has proven ill-fated, with the 26-year-old called in at late notice to replace Southland's Lima Sopoaga in the travelling squad of 28 to face the Pumas, as the All Blacks look to seal another title with their fifth victory from as many matches in the competition.

Locks Samuel Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, loose forwards Liam Squire and Sam Cane and backs Beauden Barrett and Ryan Crotty will stay home next week before joining up with the squad in Cape Town.

The 28-man squad to travel to Buenos Aires includes the return of loose forwards Jerome Kaino and Matt Todd and lock Patrick Tuipulotu.

Coach Steve Hansen says they want to manage the squad across a demanding playing and international travel schedule at the back end of the 2017 season.

The squad to travel to Argentina is:

The All Blacks had to come from 17-0 down to beat Australia in their last match and they were given another scare by the winless Pumas, who held a 22-15 second-half advantage.

Nehe Milner-Skudder and Anton Lienert-Brown scored early tries for New Zealand but six points from the boot of Nicolas Sanchez and a huge penalty from Emiliano Boffelli kept the visitors in touch.

Israel Dagg went over out wide just before the break to extend the home side’s lead only for Sanchez to touch down on the last play of the half.

The Pumas fell to a 37-15 loss against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth last weekend and head coach Daniel Hourcade has rung the changes as a result, with Cubelli elevated to the first XV at the expense of scrum-half Martin Landajo.

Nicolas Sanchez loses his place at fly-half to the more experienced Juan Martin Hernandez, with the other switches coming in the forward pack.

Lucas Noguera and Ramiro Herrera enter in the prop positions, while Matias Alemanno will start at lock with Juan Manuel Leguizamon taking Leonardo Senatore's number eight shirt.

Allister Coetzee's side endured a miserable 2016, but now boast four wins from four this year.

The strength, speed and superb handling that has graced great Springbok sides in the past were all present as they dominated against the Pumas, particularly in the scrum.

Elton Jantjies' accurate kicking set them apart from their visitors, while there were first international tries for lively wingers Courtnall Skosan and Raymond Rhule.

Springbok rugby was in crisis at the turn of the year after the side lost eight of their 12 tests in 2016, including historic defeats to Argentina, Italy and Ireland.

The South Africans are now hoping to build on a 3-0 clean-sweep of their June series against a depleted France.

Coach Allister Coetzee narrowly survived the axe, and promised the worst was over and that the side would be more competitive this season.

A civil ceremony for Messi, 30, and Antonela Roccuzzo, 29, was held at a luxury hotel in the city of Rosario.

Football stars and celebrities were among the 260 guests, with hundreds of police deployed for the event.

Messi, the Argentina and Barcelona forward, met Roccuzzo as a child before he moved to Spain aged just 13.

Among the guests at Friday's wedding were Messi's Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Neymar, Gerard Piqué and his wife, Colombia's pop star Shakira. A number of guests flew into Rosario on private jets.