MONTEVIDEO: Brazil are in, and over the next week three more South American countries will join the five-time champions at the World Cup in Russia.

The fifth-placed team from the region will also keep their chances alive, facing a playoff next month against New Zealand. That winner will also advance.

With two matches to play, Uruguay and Colombia are in the best shape to join Brazil at the World Cup. The biggest shock could be two-time champions Argentina, who will battle for a spot against Peru, Chile, Paraguay and Ecuador. Bolivia and Venezuela have been eliminated.

Argentina — runners-up three years ago in Brazil — are outside the top four automatic qualifying places in fifth place in the table, just below Peru on goal difference, and have not missed a World Cup since 1970.

Argentina play Peru on Thursday at Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera stadium, among the world’s most hostile venues for visiting teams, in the first World Cup qualifier there in 20 years.

Both countries have 24 points, and a victory by either would be a giant step toward qualifying. A slip, and Argentina will have to win the final match in Quito, Ecuador, where the altitude of 2,850 metres is a burden for visiting teams.

Peru, coached by Argentine Ricardo Gareca, are at home to Colombia in their final game. They last reached the World Cup in 1982 in Spain.

“We’re going to arrive at that final game in great shape,” Gareca said, with his side having won three games straight to get back into contention.

“We’ve got this far with our determination.”

Argentina will be without Sergio Aguero for both matches after he fractured ribs in a car accident last week. New coach Jorge Sampaoli has been unable to lift the team, which has drawn its last two matches, against Uruguay and Venezuela.

While a fifth-place finish would likely still see them qualify for Russia — with what ought to be a straight forward playoff assignment against New Zealand awaiting — a crowded table means Argentina can’t take anything for granted.

If South American champions Chile — currently in sixth place, one point adrift of Argentina — win their home match against Ecuador, and fourth-placed Peru win or draw in Buenos Aires, Argentina will head into the final round of games next week outside both the automatic qualifying and playoff places.

Two-time defending Copa America champions Chile have lost their last two matches, against Paraguay and Bolivia, an indication of the state of play and after the game against Ecuador, they must beat Brazil next week in Sao Paulo.

Uruguay, meanwhile, are in great shape. They have 27 points and second place in the standings, 10 points behind Brazil and can book their ticket to Russia with an away victory over Venezuela on Thursday.

Third-placed Colombia have 26 points and could also qualify on Thursday if they beat Paraguay in the coastal city of Barranquilla and Chile fail to win in Santiago.

“We’re fired up, but relaxed, knowing that this group can win the match and bring happiness to Colombia,” defender Davinson Sanchez said.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Brazil travel to La Paz to face Bolivia while Paraguay (21 points) and Ecuador (20) will need to win their final two matches and get help from others to have any chance.

Fixtures:

Thursday: Bolivia v Brazil, Venezuela v Uruguay, Chile v Ecuador, Colombia v Paraguay, Argentina v Peru.

Tuesday: Brazil v Chile, Ecuador v Argentina, Paraguay v Venezuela, Peru v Colombia, Uruguay v Bolivia

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2017