A World Cup without Messi and his men is just unthinkable,Argentina is on the very edge of missing the World Cup for the first time since 1970,with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Peru before a full house stadium in Buenos Aires.
Argentina has played a total of 16 games,In eight games with Messi in CONMEBOL qualifying, Argentina have won five matches and picked up 17 points. In eight games without him, they’ve won just once, picking up seven points, which is the major reason they find themselves facing the real prospect of missing out on a World Cup for the first time since 1970.
Currently Argentina is in 6th place,the top 4 teams are qualified automatically while the 5th position team has to win at playoff against New Zealand in November to advance.Argentina’s fortunes largely rest on how other teams perform next week, when they will meet already-eliminated Ecuador who currently sit two places below in the table.
The next match is in Quito, which lies at nearly 2,900 metres above sea level, winning there may throw Argentina a lifeline.
Brazil has already qualified, and drew 0-0 against Bolivia on Thursday. Brazil has 38 points, followed by: Uruguay (28), Chile (26), Colombia (26), Peru (25), Argentina (25) and Paraguay (24).
Ecuador, Venezuela and Bolivia are eliminated.