Do or Die in El Centenario

The match should get underway in about 15 minutes or so. For just about the biggest match between the two countries since the 1930 World Cup Final in the same stadium, the weather has taken a nasty turn, cold and wet.

The scenarios:

Argentina wins and they automatically qualify. A draw and anything less than an Ecuador victory over Chile by a 5 goal margin does the same thing.

If Ecuador win by 5 and Argentina draw, I’m not sure what happens as they will be level on points and goal differential. Maybe head-to-head or a playoff?

Of course losing doesn’t end the dream, but a loss and an Ecuador win will send the Albiceleste (and in all likelihood Diego) packing.

Anything else gets Argentina into 5th place and a showdown with the best that the CONCACAF has to offer either Honduras or Costa Rica for the final American qualifying spot.

Diego seems set on going with a couple of Argentine based players from the start, although last game’s hero, Martin Palermo, will start on the bench. It appears as though Nicolás Otamendi (Vélez Sársfield) will start at right back and Rolando Schiavi (Newell’s Old Boys) will start his second match in a row at center back and Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes) will start in midfield.

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