By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN
Wednesday marks the final round of South America's World Cup qualifying action and all eyes will be on the masterpiece of a match in Montevideo, where Uruguay plays host to Argentina in a "battle of life and death," as one top player put it.
The winner seals an automatic berth into the 2010 World Cup, while the loser could left out in the cold.
Meanwhile, Ecuador still has a chance of grabbing the final automatic or playoff spot but only a win in Santiago, Chile will allow them to dream. An Ecuador win and Argentina-Uruguay tie would allow Ecuador to leap-frog Uruguay for the fifth spot and play-in berth that goes with it against either Honduras or Costa Rica (An Ecuador blowout win by six goals or more would help Ecuador leapfrog Argentina, but that seems extremely unlikely). Venezuela, although still mathematically alive, need a miracle to reach at least fifth place.
Here is a preview of Wednesday's matches (all games at 6pm ET except for Peru-Bolivia):
URUGUAY-ARGENTINA
Argentina need at least a draw to secure a berth for South Africa but it won't be easy in the cauldron at the famed Estadio Centenario where Uruguay will have the raucous backing of 67,000 supporters pleading for a victory that will see their squad through. Diego Forlan, who labeled the match as life or death, will be responsible for the Celestes' attack along with young starlet Luis Suarez, both of whom are vastly capable of penetrating the shaky Argentine back-line.
Argentina's last-minute winner against Peru Saturday was ridiculed, with the infamous belly-flopping photo of Maradona the pinnacle of the back-lash. Almost half of the 3,000-allotted tickets for visiting Argentine fans were returned unsold to the Uruguayan federation Tuesday amid the growing resentment by supporters against Maradona, Lionel Messi and company for a lackluster campaign yet still are in the running for automatic qualification.
Juan Sebastian Veron returns to Argentina's lineup to link up with Gonzalo Higuain and Messi in what will most likely be a counterattacking strategy but questions continue to remain about Argentina's defensive group, which could include lanky Argentine league veteran Rolando Schiavi who had some trouble against bottom feeders Peru Saturday.
CHILE-ECUADOR
Ecuador need to win to have any hope of qualifying, something that won't be easy in Chile where the sold-out National Stadium will be a sending-off celebration for the already-qualified Rojos. Chile's Argentine coach, Marcelo Bielsa, may be thinking about his native land, already indicating in several interviews that Argentina need to be at the showcase in Africa next year.
Ecuador will be without Manchester United star Antonio Valencia because of suspension as well as Giovanny Espinoza.
BRAZIL-VENEZUELA
Brazilian manager Dunga recalled Kaka and Luis Fabiano back to the lineup in order to grab three important points to give his side top of the table honors.
Venezuela need to feast on goals against Brazil and hope for other scenarios to fall in place in order to reach the playoff.
OTHER MATCHES:
PARAGUAY-COLOMBIA: If Brazil somehow loses, Paraguay will want the top spot of the table.
PERU-BOLIVIA: The two bottom teams play for pride but Peru will still end up as the last-place team in this cycle even if it wins.
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What did you think of this cycle's qualifiers? Who do you see in the playoff? Will Argentina miss out?
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