South America consistently produces the most competitive World Cup qualification campaign on the planet, with more strength in depth and fewer easy games than anywhere else.
Brazil flirted with disaster before securing their place in the 2002 World Cup - which, of course, they won. Argentina had a bad time in the 2010 qualifiers but managed to grab the last automatic slot.
But even bearing all that in mind, Argentina have dug themselves into a hole this time. They go into the final round down in sixth, outside even the play-off spot following a goalless draw against Peru.
On Wednesday they are away to Ecuador at the dreaded altitude of Quito, conditions they despise. A win will guarantee a play-off place and might even send them automatically to Russia, but a draw will leave them reliant on other results and a defeat will eliminate them.
There is, then, a real danger that Argentina, Lionel Messi and also some other players, will be missing from the 2018 World Cup.
Ecuador v Argentina preview
SA World Cup qualifying - all have played 17 matches
Team Won Drawn Lost GD Points
Brazil 11 5 1 27 38
Uruguay 8 4 5 10 28
Chile 8 2 7 2 26
Colombia 7 5 5 2 26
Peru 7 4 6 1 25
Argentina 6 7 4 1 25
Paraguay 7 3 7 -5 24
Ecuador 6 2 9 -1 20
Bolivia 4 2 11 -20 14
Venezuela 1 6 10 -17 9
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