World Cup Qualifying Final Weekend: CONMEBOL Predictions!

Boy, oh boy!  It's the final WCQ weekend, and there's still a whole lotta shakin' out to do.  In CONMEBOL, only Brazil and Paraguay have booked their passage to the Finals.  There are two more automatic qualification spots available, and the fifth-place half spot is forced into a playoff against CONCACAF's fourth place team.

The current standings are:

Brazil 33

Paraguay 30

Chile 27

Ecuador 23

Argentina 22

Uruguay 21

Venezuela 21

Colombia 20

Bolivia 12

Peru 10

Matchday 14, Saturday, October 10, 2009

Only Bolivia and Peru are mathematically eliminated.  Argentina unenviably sits on the fifth-place playoff spot with three teams below within two points of them. Fortunately for them, they're hosting bottom-feeder Peru, and will help themselves with a win and three points, guaranteeing they stay ahead of their pursuers.

Chile loses at Colombia, Paraguay at Venezuela, and Ecuador defeats Uruguay, and the order at top remains unchanged:

Brazil 36

Paraguay 30

Chile 27

Ecuador 26

Argentina 25

Venezuela 24

Colombia 23

Uruguay 21

It all comes down to Matchday 15, and unluckily for Ecuador, they play at Chile.  A win for either team secures a spot, as does a tie for Chile, and that's what they get, a tie. 

Argentina plays at already eliminated Uruguay, and despite Maradona's craziness, Messi and Co. make sure their country qualifies for the Finals with a victory.

The final CONMEBOL qualifier standings are:

Brazil

Paraguay

Chile

Argentina

Ecuador

Ecuador beats Costa Rica in November and earns its passage to the Finals.