South America set for Shakespearean final act

• Six teams fighting for 3 approach education slots and one play-off place
• Second-placed Uruguay in a best position of all
• Chile and Colombia in control of their possess destiny

To count on oneself or not to count on oneself; that is a doubt confronting a 6 sides still in row as a South American subordinate foe for a 2018 FIFA World Cup Russiaâ„¢ reaches a end on Tuesday. And that doubt could make all a disproportion between who creates a outing subsequent year and who stays during home.

So tighten has a foe been that 3 of a 4 approach gift places sojourn unclaimed, as does a play-off berth, a passenger of that will take on New Zealand over dual legs.

And so firmly bunched are a 6 remaining contenders that it is good value study a standings forward of a 18th and final matchday and creation a note of any side’s idea difference, that could good be a wilful cause in final who goes by to Russia 2018.

#WCQ | SOUTH AMERICA
Next turn 10 Oct:

pic.twitter.com/B5JwSYLzvF

— #WCQ ⚽️ (@FIFAWorldCup) October 6, 2017

The large match
Peru-Colombia
Estadio Nacional, Lima, 10 October, 18:30 (local time)

In a compare that encapsulates all a rising tragedy of a final few matchdays, fourth-placed Colombia, who have 26 points to their name, transport to fifth-placed Peru, who distortion a indicate behind them. A win will pledge a visitors a sheet to Russia, while any other outcome will leave them sweating on events elsewhere. The omens are good for Los Cafeteros, who have won their final 4 subordinate meetings with a Peruvians. 

However, Colombian spirit took a hole when they mislaid during home to Paraguay final week, while Peru are on a design of a wave. A win for La Blanquirroja will pledge them a play-off place, and should that outcome be accompanied by draws or defeats for Chile or Argentina, afterwards they will go true through. Peru also have a probability even if they pull or lose. 

Colombia’s Cristian Zapata and Peru’s Jefferson Farfan will both skip a diversion by suspension.

Elsewhere
As for a rest, no one has a clearer trail to Russia than Uruguay, who distortion second on 28 points. A win or a pull during home to a already-eliminated Bolivia will be adequate for them. Even if they lose, it would take a complicated better and a rarely doubtful multiple of other formula to stop them claiming a approach ticket, and even afterwards they would still have a play-off place to tumble behind on. The record books indicate to one expected outcome: Uruguay have beaten a Bolivians in 9 of their 10 prior subordinate meetings in Montevideo.

Third on 26 points, Chile need to sire a losing trend divided to a already-qualified Brazil, where they have mislaid 5 subordinate matches out of five. If they do conduct to win on Brazilian dirt for a initial time, they will secure their place in Russia, regardless of other results. A pull or a better could also be adequate for a top-four finish or a play-off place, yet in that box they will have to count on events going their approach elsewhere. Arturo Vidal is out dangling for La Roja, while probable replacements Charles Aranguiz and Pablo Hernandez are both damage doubts.

Stuck down in sixth place on 25 points, Argentina take their agonising debate to Quito, where they have not beaten a recently-eliminated Ecuador in a qualifiers given 2001, with dual defeats and a pull entrance their approach given then. A win will pledge them a play-off berth and presumably a approach place, depending on how Peru and Chile fare. Despite their unsafe position, a pull might even be adequate for them to hide into fifth or a tip four. In a eventuality of defeat, however, usually an extraordinary array of formula would see them into a play-off. Their usually absentee is a harmed Fernando Gago.

Lying a place and a indicate behind Argentina, Paraguay play horde to Venezuela meaningful that they will, in all likelihood, have to win to go through. Even then, 3 points might usually be good adequate for fifth place. A pull would usually be good adequate for fifth if accompanied by complicated defeats for Peru and Argentina, and a better would leave them with no probability during all. La Albirroja will be but a dangling Richard Ortiz.

Player to watch
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
The really genuine probability that Argentina will skip a subsequent World Cup means there will be even some-more vigour on Messi than usual. The Albiceleste captain is his side’s heading scorer in a debate with 4 goals, yet he has unsuccessful to find a behind of a net given a win over Chile on Matchday 13. Can he work his sorcery for his nation one some-more time?

Did we know?
Colombia have not mislaid a subordinate compare in Peru given 1981, when La Blanquirroja won 2-0 in a preliminaries for Spain 1982, their final coming during a universe finals. Los Cafeteros have given available 4 wins and 3 draws on Peruvian soil.

What they said
“We’re not disturbed about a other games. All we’re meditative about is picking adult points in Brazil.” Chile goalkeeper and captain Claudio Bravo.

Matchday 18 fixtures
10 October

Ecuador-Argentina
Uruguay-Bolivia
Paraguay-Venezuela
Peru-Colombia
Brazil-Chile

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=10/news=south-america-set-for-shakespearean-final-act-2911849.html