Buenos Aires  - Argentina coach Diego Maradona on Saturday praised Lionel Messi for his performance in the 4-0 win over Venezuela in Buenos Aires.

"Seeing Messi like this everyday is a pleasure. We should all leave the stadium, pay for another ticket and go in again," Maradona said.

Messi - who for the first time wore the number 10 Argentina jersey that was once worn by Maradona himself - was the man of the match in the resounding win. The Barcelona striker scored a goal and was decisively involved in two others.

Buenos Aires  - Lionel Messi rose to the challenge of wearing the historic number 10 Argentina jersey by leading his side to a comfortable 4-0 win over Venezuela Saturday in Buenos Aires, in Diego Maradona's official debut as Argentine national team coach.

Argentina thus redressed its course in the South American qualifiers towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and now stand second on 19 points from 11 games, four points ahead of leader Paraguay.

Madrid  - European champions Spain increased their lead at the top of World Cup qualifying Group 5 on Saturday, with a tight 1-0 defeat of Turkey in Madrid.

Spain won thanks to the first international goal of Gerard Pique - and thanks to several sharp saves from Iker Casillas, arguably the world's best goalkeeper at the moment.

Turkey dominated the first half, but the hosts improved after the interval and took control in midfield.

Johannesburg - There were good wins for Togo, Gabon, Tunisia and Burkina Faso on Saturday as African countries started their final phase of the 2010 World Cup qualifying.

In Ouagadougou goals by Mahamoudou Kere and Alain Traore gave Burkina Faso a 2-0 half-time lead against Guinea in a Group E match before Moumouni Dagano added a second from the spot eight minutes after the restart.

Buenos Aires  - Argentina coach Diego Maradona on Saturday granted to superstar Lionel Messi the prestigious number 10 jersey that he once wore himself.

Maradona - nicknamed "El Diez" because he is for most the best player ever to wear that shirt - picked Barcelona striker Messi as one of his successors prior to his first competitive game as national team coach, against Venezuela in Buenos Aires.

Montevideo  - Uruguay beat the mighty Paraguay by 2-0 Saturday, to add excitement to the South American qualifiers towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Paraguay - who lost in Montevideo in a game where they could not impose their trademark play - remain comfortable atop the qualifiers table. Even if second-placed Brazil beat Ecuador Sunday, Paraguay would retain a three-point lead with 23 points from 11 games.