A World Cup without Argentina is hard to imagine. Things wouldn’t be right somehow, would they? Well, no country has any divine right to take part in the Finals. The honour must be earned, and Diego Maradona’s men have some serious work to do to ensure their place in South Africa next summer. And it begins with the big one: Brazil, at home, on September 5.
Lying fourth in the group with four games to go, Argentina are two points clear of Ecuador in fifth place, but the two countries will switch position in the group if Argentina lose to Brazil and Ecuador pick up three points in Columbia. Four days after the Brazil game, Argentina have a very tricky looking trip to Asunción to play Paraguay, third in the group and a team notoriously hard to beat at home, where they hadn’t lost in the current campaign until Chile’s 2-0 victory in June.
Argentina opened their qualification campaign with three comfortable wins and no goals conceded. But they’ve only managed a further three wins in the eleven subsequent fixtures, a poor run of form that included four straight draws, and the infamous 6-1 crushing in Bolivia, which may well prove to be decisive if goal difference becomes an issue.
Whilst nobody will be pushing the panic button just yet, the clash with Brazil is absolutely massive. One of the reasons Brazil and Argentina always qualify is that the ‘one big group’ policy in South America means lot of matches (eighteen) to get it right. Four automatic places plus a play-off spot for the team finishing fifth means that failure to get to the World Cup for Argentina would be absolutely inexcusable.
Maradona took over as the national coach in December 2008. A 2-0 friendly win against France in Marseille in February certainly impressed, but in the qualifying matches for South Africa he has overseen two wins and two defeats.
To be absolutely sure of securing automatic qualification, Argentina need to win all their remaining matches. If they drop points and Ecuador finish off with four wins, then the ignominy of a play-off may be the best Argentina can hope for.
Charlie’s prediction: Brazil to pile the pressure on their neighbours with a 2-1 in Rosario.
Argentina’s remaining games:
Brazil (H) Sept 5
Paraguary (A) Sept 9
Peru (H) Oct 10
Uruguay (A) Oct 13
Get the result right here:
worldcup-latest.blogspot.com.
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