WCQ Previews

This could be one of the most heated matchdays so far in the South American qualifiers en route to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Argentina- Paraguay
ARG leads WCQ series (4-7-1)
First place is on the line in what could be the marquee matchup of the weekend. This match might be the first one in years that has captured the attention of the local fans. Four of the starters for Alfio Basile were part of the gold medal-winning side in Beijing. One of them, Benfica´s Ángel Di Maria will be making his debut with the national team after show his impressive performance in the Olympic Games.
But despite the hype and the excitement, the Albiceleste come in with two worrying stats. They come in winless in their last three matches and they have not beaten the Guaranis in the Monumental in WCQ play was in their 3-1 victory on October 10, 1973. Paraguay in the meantime are unbeaten against Argentina in their last four matches. Despite that they have never lost to their northern neighbors in Buenos Aires. The last time these two sides faced off was in 2005 and saw the Paraguayans came out on top 1-0 at the Defensores del Chaco.
This will also be an emotional moment for Paraguayan international Jonathan Santana. The Wolfsburg midfielder was born in Argentina and decided to obtain Paraguayan citizenship as his mother is a citizen of that country. His coach, Gerardo Martino will be facing off against his home country for the first time in his career as coach.
Starting XI
ARG: Abbondanzieri, Zanetti, De Michelis, Coloccini, Heinze, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Riquelme, Di Maria, Messi, Tévez

PAR: Villar; Da Silva, Verón, Cáceres, Morel Rodríguez; Barreto, Vera, Santana, Riveros; Santa Cruz, Haedo Váldez.

Ecuador- Bolivia
(ECU leads WCQ series 5-2-1)
The home side is ready to impose their advantage against lowly Bolivia. Ecuador are forced to win this game in order to keep pace or even surpass Brazil. Unlike other teams, against the Bolivians the altitude is not a factor as they travel down to Quito. Ecuador is winless in their last two matches, which include a scoreless draw against Colombia at home and an almost historic win against Argentina in Buenos Aires until Rodrigo Palacio denied them in the dying seconds of the match. A win for Sixto Vizuete’s men is vital against Bolivia if they plan to gain any ground on Brazil.
Ecuador has not lost to Bolivia in 11 years and has never lost to them at home in WCQs.

Erwin Sánchez will play with one point at the top and try to give problems to an Ecuadorian side who might have the best athletes, but their mental lapses caused them to be on the outside looking in this tournament.

The probable South American player of the year, Joffre Guerrón will be a huge factor as he always is in these types of games.

Starting XI

ECU: Cevallos; Reasco, Hurtado, Espinoza, Ayoví; Castillo, Méndez, Guerrón, Bolaños; Benítez, Caicedo

BOL: Arias; Hoyos, Raldes, Rivero, García; Gómez, García, Robles, Saucedo, Peña; Botero

Colombia- Uruguay
(COL lead WCQ series 4-5-3)
If you were to combine these two teams, they would be the runaway winner of this qualifiers. It is going to be a battle between the unstoppable force and the immovable object. The Colombians come in with the top defense allowing only two goals in six matches. Uruguay’s offense in the meantime scored 15. For Uruguay this stat could be a little skewed as they 11 of those 15 goals were scored in two matches (Bolivia 5-0, Peru 6-0). All of their eight points were earned at home, but they are a formidable side so far on the road. They played a superior match against Brazil but lost 2-1. Paraguay outmuscled them in Asunción 1-0. The Charrúas could could have matchup problems in the middle of the box as the slower defenders might not be able to stay with Falcao García and Hugo Rodallega, two of the hottest goalscorers in western hemisphere. At the same time that backline could be a viable option in set pieces with players like Diego Lugano The Uruguayans also have history against them as they have never won in WCQ in Colombia. They have not scored a goal in their last two matches in Colombia, one of them being a 5-0 thrashing in Barranquilla.
Colombia remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament and could be in second place at the end of the day if they win and depending on the result in Buenos Aires. The intention of coach Jorge Luis Pinto is to strive for the three points at home in an effort to keep pace and maybe put pressure on the teams in front of them. His teams has a more offensive look, but they will still have to watch out for a potent group of forwards led by Diego Forlán and Luis Suárez. Defender Camilo Zúñiga is a constant threat to go out on the attack, which is a benefit and an issue for Pinto as the Nacional man has a tendency to remain on the attack and forget his defensive responsibilities. This could be something that Suárez could take advantage of.
Giovanny Hernánded will have to play the game of his life as this might be his last chance at the international level. One of the most gifted players to have come out of Colombia, the former Colo Colo star has never panned out wearing his country’s colors. The attack will depend on his performance. But there is a difference this time. Jorge Luis Pinto might have a quick hook in order to bring in Macnelly Torres. Hernández will also have an in-form Fabian Vargas backing him up. Vargas is a vital cog in Boca Juniors’ quick start in this Argentine Apertura and is finally getting the looks by coach Carlos Ischia that no other coach gave him while he was at La Ribera. Vargas showed flashes of brilliance on the attack, but his role was usually reserved as a holding or even a defensive midfielder. Under Ischia he is allowed to roam a little more and this is what Pinto expects to do with him.
The biggest story of the match is how cautious will both side be. One thing that neither team will want to do is get too physical. Both teams have a total of 18 players that could be suspended for their midweek matches if they see yellow. This is one factor that could determine how both teams play.
For Uruguay it is a case of earning points in order to stay within shouting distance as they see that their midweek match against Ecuador is not a gimme.
Starting XI
COL: Julio, Zuñiga, L.Perea, Mosquera, Vélez, Sánchez, Guarín, Vargas, Hernández, Rodallega, Falcao García.

URU: Castillo, Silva, Lugano, Godín, Fucile, Pereira, Eguren, Gargano, Rodríguez, Suárez, Forlán.

Standings (as of 9/5/08)
Paraguay 13-x
Argentina 11-x
Colombia 10-x
Chile 10-x
Brazil 9- y
Uruguay 8
Venezuela 7
Ecuador 5
Bolivia 4
Peru 3

If qualifiers were to end today:
x- qualify directly to South Africa 2010
y- play in a playoff vs. 4th place team from CONCACAF