Soccer fans and aligned businesses alike would be saddened by a World Cup that didn’t include Lionel Messi. That’s looking increasingly possible, with Argentina currently sitting fifth in CONMEBOL qualifying. But Argentina can leapfrog one of its biggest rivals for a spot at the 2018 World Cup and solidify its standing on Thursday night, when La Albiceleste takes on Peru in Buenos Aires.
Argentina faces must-win World Cup qualifier against Peru
A loss on Thursday could mean a World Cup without Lionel Messi
Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images for ICC
Argentina has recently changed coaches, and Jorge Sampaoli has opted to leave out team mainstays like Gonzalo Higuain and Javier Pastore. And Juventus star Paulo Dybala is likely to be benched, too, with Sampaoli hoping Darío Benedetto can transfer his hot form for Boca Juniors to the international stage. The 27-year-old striker has one cap and no international goals.
Peru has exceeded expectations so far in CONMEBOL qualifying thanks to some fresh young talent. Veteran stars Paolo Guerrero and Jefferson Farfan have had good qualifying cycles, but they’ve received surprisingly good support from Edison Flores and Christian Cueva as well. It’s also been a breakout tournament for 22-year-old midfielder Renato Tapia, who does a bit of everything in the center of the park.
A draw in this game would benefit Peru more than Argentina. The Peruvians play at home on the final day against a Colombia team that might already have qualification locked up, while Argentina plays at altitude away to Ecuador, who could still be fighting for a top five place.
How to watch Argentina vs. Peru online
If you’re a TV subscriber to beIN Sports, you can catch the game for free on beIN Sports Connect. For everyone else, you can get access to beIN Sports en Español through over the top streaming services like Fubo and Sling.
Match date/time: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina
TV: beIN Sports en Español
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