Top guns eye World Cup qualifiers

The 16-game South American World Cup qualifying campaign can be something of a marathon, but the continent’s leading nations can take big strides towards sealing their places in the 2014 finals this month. There are four automatic qualifying slots available for the tournament in Brazil, as well as a play-off against an Asian nation as a consolation for fifth place. With their old rivals not having to qualify, all the pressure is on Argentina, who host Paraguay in Cordoba in third place in the section. Failure to make it to neighbouring Brazil is unthinkable for the Argentines, but Lionel Messi is not taking anything for granted, especially after forming part of the sides that slipped up against supposed outsiders Bolivia and Venezuela earlier in the campaign. “The qualifiers are tough regardless of what kind of form your opponents are in,” he warned ahead of the Paraguay clash. “We knew that changes needed to be made after the game against Bolivia (a 1-1 draw in November last year) because of the result and because of the way we played,” added the Barcelona star. “But we did that and we have since won some difficult games against good teams.” Paraguay’s run to the Copa America final in Argentina last year is now but a distant memory after their miserable start to World Cup qualifying. A run of just one win and three defeats in their opening five matches led to coach Francisco ‘Chiqui’ Arce being sacked. His replacement is Gerardo Pelusso, and the experienced Uruguayan is determined to turn around the fortunes of his new charges. “I don’t think any football fan in South America could have imagined that Paraguay would be right down near the bottom, especially when you take into account the last World Cup qualifying campaign, how they performed at South Africa 2010 and the runners-up spot they achieved in the Copa America,” he told FIFA.com recently. With group leaders Chile not in action until their home clash with Colombia next midweek, Uruguay can go clear at the top of the table with a win against the Colombians in Barranquilla. The reigning continental champions, who warmed up for the game with a goalless friendly draw in France last month after a disappointing showing at the Olympics, are the only side in South American qualifying still defending an unbeaten record. “These games will be fundamental. If we can take something in Colombia and then win at home (against Ecuador next Tuesday) we will have taken a huge step towards making it to Brazil,” said defender Diego Godin. Ecuador currently hold the fourth and final automatic qualification berth, largely thanks to their impressive home form at altitude in Quito.