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D-Day for struggling Argentina

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 10/10/2009
Football betting

Argentina could still be on track to reach next summer's World Cup Finals in South Africa if they can beat a Peru side this weekend that has no chance of playing in South Africa.

Diego Maradona's team have imploded in the last six months, being thumped 6-1 by Bolivia, before slumping to successive losses against Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay.

It has left the 1978 and 1986 World Cup winners on the cusp of missing out on next summer's extravaganza as they currently stand in fifth - which would see them miss out on automatic qualification.

They would instead have to enter a play-off against the fourth-placed team in the North, Central America and Caribbean region next month.

However, Argentina could not wish for better opponents than Peru who have lost ten of their 16 qualifiers to date including a 6-0 humbling in Uruguay and a 5-1 capitulation against Ecuador.

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The Buenos Aires clash is bound to take all the headlines but a more interesting encounter could be the one that is set to take place in Quito where Ecuador entertain Uruguay.

The two teams are separated by two points with Ecuador currently in the fourth and final automatic qualification spot while Uruguay are sixth.

Ecuador have secured 15 of their 23 qualification points at home with their only defeat being a somewhat surprising 1-0 setback against Venezuela.

Uruguay's away form has been patchy during the campaign with their only three-point haul on their travels coming in the 1-0 victory at Colombia while at home they have only lost one, to sportsbook favourites Brazil, and thrashed Bolivia 5-0 and Peru 6-0.

There could also be an intriguing clash in Medellin where Colombia must beat Chile if they are to sneak into the top four.

It will be a tough ask though as they slumped to a 4-0 defeat against Chile earlier in the campaign and are currently seven points adrift of their third-placed opponents.

Colombia have also found goals hard to come by, managing only ten in their 16 qualifiers to date and only a dismal two in eight matches away from home.

Their home record is good though, they have won five of their eight home qualifiers, conceding only three goals in the process.

Elsewhere, Venezuela could benefit from the fact that second-placed Paraguay, who they play on Saturday, have already qualified for the finals.

A victory could propel Venezuela, who are the only South American side never to reach a World Cup finals, into the play-off spot if other results go their way.

Finally Brazil, already installed as the favourites to win the trophy next summer, have sealed their place in South Africa and face a Bolivia side in La Paz this weekend who have no chance of qualifying.

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