Belarus hold Argentina to 0-0 draw in Minsk

Belarus, preparing for the start of Europe’s 2010 World Cup qualifiers next month, held a strong Argentina side to a 0-0 draw in a friendly on Wednesday.

The South Americans were missing Lionel Messi and Juan Roman Riquelme, playing for Argentina at the Beijing Olympics, but still should have won with a side including Luis Gonzalez and Esteban Cambiasso in midfield and Carlos Tevez in attack.

Newcastle United defender Fabricio Coloccini had the best chance in a scrappy encounter in the Belarus capital but his shot from the edge of the box hit the crossbar just before the interval.

Argentina, second in the South American World Cup qualifying group on 11 points from six games, host leaders Paraguay in Buenos Aires on Sept. 6.

Belarus open their qualifying campaign in European Group Six away to Ukraine on the same day.