Paraguay have qualified. Chile can choke. Ecuador too. Argentina are at home to Peru next. Uruguay have superior goal difference. Venezuela are lurking. Colombia cannot be ruled out just yet.
There are so many permutations, yet it is difficult to discuss without getting drawn into the Argentine drama.
Argentina are in no more precarious a place than France or Germany. While the Fatherland could find themselves facing the Czech Republic in November, all Argentina may have to contend with is a collapsing Costa Rica.
Subcommandante Maradona said it best after the recent defeat in Paraguay, “We’ve qualified via the playoffs in the past and nobody died.” And if I remember rightly, it was Maradona himself who made sure a looping Australian deflection crossed the line in Buenos Aires in 1993.
The leader knows every inch of the terrain.
Yet, it would be remiss not to admit my affection for Argentina and Maradona could be clouding my judgment. I like to dream. In my dreams, there is always a blue sky, a few bright white clouds and Argentina stringing passes together and stinging shots towards goal.
The reality is different after Paraguay. Argentina is limping along the River Plate and is surrounded and being pursued by the Achilles, Ajax, Exeter and Cumberland of the South American battle group. It’s a long way to Costa Rica. Coming Soon….The Battle of the River Plate?
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