Jorge Sampaoli: Argentina will be at 2018 World Cup despite Peru draw
Friday 6 October 2017 10:35, UK
Jorge Sampaoli insists Argentina will be at the 2018 World Cup despite a 0-0 draw against Peru leaving them outside the qualifying places.
Sampaoli said his side were "angry" with the stalemate against Peru, that came in front of a sell-out home crowd in Buenos Aires, but remain confident they will make it to Russia.
Should they miss out, it would be the first occasion since 1970 that the two-time World Cup champions, who reached the final against Germany three years ago, will not play in the tournament.
Speaking after the disappointing result, Sampaoli said there remained an "atmosphere of enthusiasm" within the squad that they could still qualify, even though they face a tricky trip to Ecuador in their final game.
"I am very confident that if we play with the conviction with which we did it today we will be in the World Cup," he said. "Today Argentina was far superior to Peru, playing with a lot of authority.
"The situation is not comfortable. But the ranking still depends on us. We could not beat them on the scoreboard but they did in the game. We are very hopeful for everything that comes."
Now two places outside the automatic qualification place in sixth, Argentina must likely beat eighth-placed Ecuador on Wednesday in Quito to stand any chance of an automatic route to Russia.
As fifth-placed Peru face fourth-placed Colombia, a win for either would secure them the automatic place, with Argentina leap-frogging the loser of that match into the play-off against New Zealand, should they beat Ecuador.
A draw for Argentina may also be enough to secure the play-off place but only if Colombia were to beat Peru while Paraguay would also need to fail to beat bottom-placed Venezuela in Asuncion.
Argentina could also qualify automatically with a draw if Chile lose by more than one goal to Brazil, Paraguay fail to win and Colombia and Peru do not draw.
Sampaoli praised Lionel Messi for playing with "great intensity", creating opportunities and putting balls "in places that were impossible".
"I am convinced that if we are as we were today, that Argentina is going to the World Cup," he said.
To add to Argentina's woes, Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago suffered a serious injury, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and internal lateral ligament in his right knee.
Sampaoli said losing the midfielder as a "blow" as he was a "very valuable player".
