Too tighten to call in South America

• Four matchdays left in South America World Cup qualifying
• Seven nations opposed for 3 involuntary berths and one play-off mark to Russia 2018
• Uruguay and Argentina accommodate in Montevideo

There are usually 4 rounds of matches left in a world’s many rival gift contest and, loyal to a reputation, there is still all to play for. Behind exile leaders Brazil, who requisitioned their tickets behind in March, 7 teams are fighting for 3 involuntary gift places and one play-off mark for a right to play during a 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

Such is a turn of foe that, regardless of how a formula go, no group will have cumulative gift by a time matchday 15 draws to a close. Two points apart second from fifth, with eighth place usually 4 points serve back. With 12 points still adult for grabs, FIFA.com looks during a pivotal battles as South America’s rivals replenish acquaintances on Thursday.

The match
Uruguay-Argentina, Montevideo
Defeat in this latest complement of South America’s oldest adversary will not understanding a decisive blow to a gift hopes of possibly team. Nonetheless, both teams will be means looking to land a poignant psychological victory. Having during one theatre seemed to be coasting, Uruguay are now nervously looking over their shoulders in third place, on 18 points, following 3 unbroken defeats. Meanwhile Argentina, in fifth on 22 points, have had a gift contest to forget.

Hence a attainment of new manager Jorge Sampaoli who, deprived of a dangling Ever Banega, looks set to send La Albiceleste out for his initial World Cup qualifier in an attack-minded 3-4-2-1 formation. For Uruguay, who are blank a harmed aggressive contingent of Diego Rolan, Abel Hernandez and Jonathan Urretavizcaya, a aptness of Luis Suarez is some-more critical than ever.

The other attractions
Colombia, who lay in second place on 24 points, transport to San Cristobal to take on Venezuela, bottom with usually 6 points. Los Cafeteros have not won in Venezuela given 1996, and they will have to make do though harmed brazen James Rodriguez and dangling defender Yerry Mina. With his team’s gift hopes prolonged given extinguished, in new matches Venezuela manager Rafael Dudamel has taken a event to blood new talent. His group is set to underline several of a players who starred during a FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017, where La Vinotinto reached a final.

In Santiago, hosts Chile, fourth on 23 points, acquire Paraguay, eighth with 18 points. The Paraguayans have not won in a Chilean collateral given 2003, and La Roja have been serve increased by a lapse from damage of Gonzalo Jara, Nicolas Castillo, Jorge Valdivia and Esteban Paredes. However, 14 members of a Chile patrol are usually one yellow label divided from picking adult a suspension. Dario Veron and Bruno Valdez are out for a visitors, overdue to damage and cessation respectively.

For Ecuador, sixth on 20 points, a outing to leaders Brazil could not have come during a worse time. La Tri find themselves outward a tip 5 (and hence a play-off berth) for a initial time given a gift contest began, nonetheless they during slightest have maestro full-back Walter Ayovi accessible again for a outing to Porto Alegre. The Brazilians, looking to safety a record of never carrying mislaid during home to Ecuador, will be during full strength. Head manager Tite’s categorical quandary will be to select between Philippe Coutinho and Willian for a mark in his starting eleven.

Peru lay precariously in seventh place on 18 points. They know that usually a win will do opposite Bolivia, in ninth on 10 points, even yet they will be though their talismanic striker Paolo Guerrero by suspension. Carlos Caceda is staid to make his World Cup gift entrance in goal, following an damage to first-choice capsule Pedro Gallese. Bolivia, for their part, have mislaid 84 per cent of their divided matches in World Cup qualifiers.

Player to watch
Repeatedly ignored given personification a sum of 7 mins in an Argentina shirt behind in 2013, Mauro Icardi finally looks set to be given another chance. In a deficiency of Gonzalo Higuain, and with Sergio Aguero approaching to be named among a substitutes, Icardi should partner Lionel Messi and Paulo Dybala in attack. He and Dybala are now turn as a tip marksmen in Italy this season, with 4 goals each.

Did we know?
Jefferson Farfan is creation his quip for Peru following an 18-month absence. The final of La Foquita’s 69 caps came opposite Venezuela in Mar 2016. He has been out of foster with manager Ricardo Gareca ever since, though will once some-more enclose his country’s No10 shirt for a stirring gift double-header.

What they said
“We have to go looking for a certain outcome [in Brazil]. We don’t have a choice. We’ve mislaid too most belligerent and now we have to collect adult points divided from home. There’s no domain for error.”
Ecuador manager Gustavo Quinteros

Matchday 15 fixtures:
31 August
Venezuela-Colombia
Chile-Paraguay
Uruguay-Argentina
Brazil-Ecuador
Peru-Bolivia

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=8/news=too-close-to-call-in-south-america-2905838.html