The Phnom Penh Post

World Cup moment of truth for Argentina

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THE once unf a t homable prospect of a World Cup without Lionel Messi and Argentina could become reality today as South America’s thrilling 2018 qualificat­ion battle reaches its climax.

Two years after Argentina kicked off their troubled campaign with a 2-0 defeat at home to Ecuador, Jorge Sampaoli’s side travel to Quito to face La Tri once more with their hopes hanging precarious­ly.

The two-time World Cupwinners head into the final round of games in sixth place ov e r a l l , o u t s i d e t h e t o p four positions that grant automatic qualificat­ion and trailing fifth-placed Peru, who occupy the playoff spot, on goal difference.

Yet with only two points separating third-placed Chile (26 points) with seventh-placed Paraguay (24), any number of permutatio­ns are possible.

Argentina can simplify the equation for their fans, however, if they manage to take all three points.

A victory would guarantee they finish no worse than fifth place, putting them into a twolegged playoff against New Zealand they would be expected to win. But achieving victory in the thin air of Quito, which is 2,850 metres (9,350 feet) above sea level, may be easier said than done.

Argentina have an abysmal record in away games against Ecuador, with their last victory in Quito coming in 2001.

Since then in World Cup qualifying games, they have been beaten twice, in 2005 and 2009, before scraping a 1-1 draw in 2013.

‘Hanging on’

Moreover, Argentina face their moment of truth after a series of uninspirin­g performanc­es that has left the rest of t he f ootball i ng world scratching its head at how a squad bristling with so much attacking talent has found scoring so difficult.

Despite being able to call upon Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria throughout the campaign, Argentina have only scored 16 times in 17 games.

Last Thursday’s 0-0 stalemate with Peru in Buenos Aires was Argentina’s third consecutiv­e draw. The Albicelest­e have now scored only once in their past four qualifying games.

While Messi and his teammates attempt to adjust to the lung-busting challenge of playing at altitude, millions of compatriot­s will be holding their breath.

Uruguay, meanwhile, need only take a point in their home qualifier against already-eliminated Bolivia to be certain of progressin­g.

One of the most high-stakes games comes in Lima, where Peru will aim to qualify for their first World Cup finals since 1982 when they take on Colombia.

Colombia were moments from qualifying for the World Cup on Thursday before two last-gasp goals from Paraguay turned a 1-0 win into a 2-1 defeat.

That win kept Paraguay’s qualificat­ion bid alive, and a home win over Venezuela today could see them seal their place to Russia depending on results elsewhere.

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