Brazil, Paraguay and Chile have qualified for the World Cup, leaving Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador to decide which team finishes fourth -- the last automatic qualifying spot from the region. The fifth-place finisher earns a playoff with the No. 4 team from North and Central America and the Caribbean for another berth. The opponent will be either Costa Rica or Honduras. Going into today's matches, Argentina has 25 points, Uruguay 24 and Ecuador 23. Argentina plays at Uruguay and Ecuador plays at Chile. In three other matches that have no bearing on World Cup berths, it's Peru vs. Bolivia, Brazil vs. Venezuela and Paraguay vs. Colombia.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has a healthy respect for Argentina. “It's going to be a tough game because they (Argentina) are an opponent with lots of prestige,” Tabarez said on Monday. “But we don't consider it impossible.” Argentina is in the best position, thanks to Saturday's 2-1 victory over Peru in which Martin Palermo scored in the third minute of injury time -- in a driving rainstorm -- to give the underperforming regional powerhouse victory at River Plate's Monumental stadium.
The worst team in South America, Peru has won only two of 17 qualifiers. Palermo, who entered as a second-half substitute, may have saved Argentina from missing its first World Cup since 1970. Palermo celebrated the goal by pulling off his shirt and raising his arms skyward in the downpour. At the same moment, embattled Argentina coach Diego Maradona dived headfirst into the soaking wet pitch -- as if he'd just scored the goal.
If Argentina beats Uruguay at Montevideo today, the two-time champions advance to the World Cup. The same for Uruguay. A victory and it goes to South Africa. For Argentina, a draw might be enough to finish fourth, and it can even lose and still have a shot at the playoff spot.
For Uruguay, a draw would only be enough for a possible finish in fifth place -- and a playoff in November. Uruguay might even reach the playoff with a loss. Ecuador is the wild card.
