World Cup - Argentina still unsure of direct qualification

Eurosport - Mon, 12 Oct 09:23:00 2009

Argentina are favourites to come out on top of the three-way race for South America's remaining World Cup place and a play-off berth.

FOOTBALL diego maradona argentina coach - 0

When the Argentines meet Uruguay at the iconic Centenario in Montevideo needing a draw to secure their place at the 2010 finals they will, however, be no sure thing.

Ecuador, who visit qualified Chile, are also vying for one of the two places, including fifth which sends the occupants into a two-leg play-off against the team finishing fourth in the CONCACAF region.

Diego Maradona's Argentina team have disappointed as they stumble through the qualifiers, blindly hoping for miracles like Saturday's at River Plate's Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

Martin Palermo, 35 and recalled by his country after a 10-year international absence, scored two minutes into stoppage time to hand Argentina a 2-1 victory over Peru in a dramatic, rain-soaked finale.

Having dominated the first half and gone ahead through Gonzalo Higuain two minutes into the second, they allowed Peru to take the upper hand and conceded a 90th-minute equaliser.

Maradona is criticised for his failure to mould a team out of a fine generation of Argentine players, including Lionel Messi who is a shadow of the Barcelona genius when he wears light blue and white.

Uruguay are the opposite to Argentina in that they are better on a good day than the sum of their parts.

A draw at high altitude in Quito against Ecuador on Saturday was going to keep them in with a slim chance and they paced themselves in a cautious performance until they fell behind to an Antonio Valencia goal.

They were level within a minute when Diego Forlan crossed for Luis Suarez to score and Forlan's injury-time penalty gave victory to Uruguay, who will likely be the less nervous team in Montevideo on Wednesday.

Ecuador had to win their home game knowing it would be difficult to beat a confident Chile side who secured their finals berth with an impressive 4-2 away win over Colombia, joining the already qualified Brazil and Paraguay.

Their coach Sixto Vizuete criticised Uruguay's tactics of slowing the pace, taking their time at dead-ball situations and committing niggling fouls.

"We lost to anti-football and with the referee's compliance in allowing (Uruguay) to play as they liked," Vizuete said.

Uruguay will come up against an Argentina team who have shown little in the way of tactics, relying on the inspiration of individual players.

Reuters

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  1. World Cup - Argentina still unsure of direct­ qualification ???
    This head should be adjusted because­ Argentina has yet to play football as a team thus far.­ Struggling to defeat last placed Peru in the group at­ home of all places, and then to face a tough Uruguay on­ the road. Defeat and Elimination is more like it. But­ we shall wait and see.

    From AnthonyR, on Tue 13 Oct 6:01AM

  2. HOPE ARGENTINA FAIL TO QUALIFY BECAUSE SINCE 1986 (HAND­ OF GOD) THEY ARE NOTHING BUT CHEATS.

    From rblackhurst2004, on Mon 12 Oct 9:49PM

  3. Diego Armando Maradona The Lord of Football!!! the king­ of the kings!

    From teslachka, on Mon 12 Oct 7:00PM

  4. one of the greatest players i've ever seen play the­ game!! a true true footballing genius!! but as a­ manager lets face it he's pants! they gave him the­ job thinkin he would inspire them but on all managerial­ levels he aint got a clue. he's never managed­ properly before and then get national job? what were­ they thinkin? because he's a national hero can they­ really sack him, or will he walk away if they ask him!!­ either way Argentina team is gonna suffer they'er­ better than this adn he should go now for the good of­ his country!!! if he wins anythin it'll be luck and­ having some great players he can't get playin­ together now

    From gus h, on Mon 12 Oct 6:47PM

  5. i agree with M "It would be good for world­ football if this convicted­ drug cheat was forever­ banished from the modern game.­ He does not deserve to­ have any place in the finals­ tournament again".­

    I love Argintina and Messi is fantastic, but Diego­ Maradona doesnt deserve to be their coach, he is a has­ been and even if they do get into the 2010 they will do­ nothing fantastic - the cheat is no insparation for­ such a fantastic team.

    From Lee, on Mon 12 Oct 3:38PM

  6. Maradona did more for football through making it­ visually attractive than almost any other player. The­ drug issue was unfortunate, with them being taken only­ so that he could lose weight, following his late­ call-up to the team at the USA world cup. I, for one,­ feel privileged to have seen him play in previous world­ cups, even if only on TV. The way he withstood­ scathing tackles from the real cheats of the game who­ only wanted to bring him down because they could not­ stop him by any legal means should be admired.

    From dillomanuk, on Mon 12 Oct 2:10PM

  7. A world cup without Argentina is devalued,the super­ powers of international football have to be there­ Brazil,Italy,Germany and Argentina.

    From ubermensch, on Mon 12 Oct 1:46PM

  8. It would be good for world football if this convicted­ drug cheat was forever banished from the modern game.­ He does not deserve to have any place in the finals­ tournament again.

    From M, on Mon 12 Oct 9:38AM
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