Picking a Best XI from South American World Cup Qualifying so Far

The South American World Cup qualifiers are widely considered to be one of the most grueling and toughest of all the competitions that grant entry to football's most famous tournament. 

Teams must play each of their continental rivals twice, in conditions that span from lung-sapping altitude to debilitating heat, always in front of hostile crowds, at times thousands of miles from home. While Brazil's hosting duties mean 2014's edition is missing one of its stars, this has by no means taken away from the fierce competition. 

With only five or six matches remaining to decide which South American sides will join the Selecao in the World Cup, we already have some idea of what teams are looking good to make it. These teams have been driven forward by their star players, some of whom it is no surprise to see excelling, and others who were rather unheralded back in 2011 when the show began. 

We bring you the best team so far across the nine participants of Conmebol's qualifiers. 

Goalkeeper: David Ospina, Colombia

When you think of Colombia's strengths, their dazzling attacking talent comes immediately to mind. But while it is true that Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and Teofilo Gutierrez have all been outstanding, let's not overlook the man between the posts. 

Nice goalkeeper David Ospina suffered disappointment in the Copa America when he was injured on the first day of training, but he bounced back to establish himself once more as the undisputed first choice for the qualifiers. His agile work in goal has been key to the Cafetero's moving towards their first World Cup finals since 2002. 

The Colombian team have conceded just seven goals in 10 games, making them the most miserly defence in all of South America, and much of this is thanks to Ospina's contributions. He may not have the eccentricity of most famous Cafetero gloveman Rene Higuita, but if he continues in this vein it will not be long before the two are mentioned in the same breath as national idols. 

Full-Backs: Juan Carlos Paredes, Ecuador and Gabriel Cichero, Venezuela

Two men from the far north of the continent occupy the full-back positions of our prestigious team, as both of their nations have surprised many to move into contention for a place in Brazil 2014. 

Barcelona de Guayaquil star Paredes has maneuvered himself into a regular starting place for Ecuador, and it is easy to see why. In a team that relies on pace and surprise to destroy their opponents on the counter, the 25-year-old's devastating incursions down the right help feed the likes of Benitez and Caicedo and make the Tricolor a devastating prospect.

Cichero, meanwhile, has consistently shown himself to be a solid performer out on the left hand side of defence, marking tightly and letting few past. It is that defensive solidity on which Venezuela's most successful qualifying campaign in history has been based on. Currently in the fifth play-off position, the Vinotinto have only conceded 12 goals in 11 games, three of which came against leaders Argentina. 

Centre-Backs: Fernando Amorebieta, Venezuela and Ezequiel Garay, Argentina

As well as being a key part of Venezuela's miserly World Cup defence, Basque-Venezuelan star Fernando Amorebieta also gave us one of the most outstanding, emotional moments in the entire competition to date. 

With just over an hour played at home to Argentina, the centre-back steered in Juan Arango's cross to beat Sergio Romero, opening the scoring against the Albiceleste and giving Venezuela a lead they would not surrender. It was the side's first ever victory against Argentina, and put the Vinotinto on course for an impressive campaign so far. 

Garay, meanwhile, was brought in from the wilderness by coach Alejandro Sabella to try and fix Argentina's wayward defence. The gamble has paid off; the side now looks like a different prospect from the one which started the competition, and that solidity has allowed them to march imperiously to the brink of qualification. 

Defensive Midfielder: Javier Mascherano, Argentina

El Jefecito has been, to put it simply, in outstanding form throughout Argentina's qualifying campaign. His work is rarely flashy, breaking up play and passing short, but it is devastatingly effective and a key component of the counter system which has seen the Albiceleste rip sides apart from the middle of the pitch onwards. 

Mascherano had to deal with having the captaincy stripped from him at the start of the tournament, but responded magnificently and has only improved with that extra weight lifted off him. Of particular note was an incredible shift in La Paz against Bolivia, where he never stopped working despite perilous conditions at altitude, helping his side to a valuable draw. 

This work-rate and commitment is enough for the Barcelona star to anchor our midfield, just beating out the likes of Diego Perez and Colombia's Carlos Sanchez. 

Central Midfield: Fredy Guarin, Colombia

Guarin announced himself to the World Cup qualifiers in instant fashion back in 2011, during Colombia's very first home clash against Venezuela. With 19 minutes played, the Inter star smashed home a brilliant long-range shot. 

The powerful midfielder has only improved as the tournament has progressed, finding new life as the link between defence and attack in Jose Pekerman's new look Colombia side after the Argentine replaced Leonel Alvarez. 

That strike against the Vinotinto has been the only one so far, but there will surely be more to follow for a player blessed with one of the strongest shots in football. 

Central Midfield: Juan Arango, Venezuela

One of the hardest positions to fill on this entire team, there are plenty of worthy contenders to occupy the left side of our midfield three. Angel Di Maria has been outstanding for Argentina, while the likes of Jefferson Montero, James Rodriguez and Jefferson Farfan would also be great candidates for the post. 

After much consideration, however, Borussia Monchengladbach's stalwart and Venezuela legend Juan Arango gets the nod. His cultured play in midfield has been the cornerstone of Cesar Farias' team's play, giving them stability and making them a tough prospect for any team. 

Arango's set-pieces also help the 33-year-old of 113 international caps squeeze in. It was his delivery in Puerto La Cruz that set up Fernando Amorebieta for that memorable winner against Argentina, and he has also pitched in with two goals of his own to give the Vinotinto a fighting chance of winning their first-ever World Cup. 

Right Forward: Gonzalo Higuain, Argentina

Again, a devilishly difficult choice had to be made for the posts, up front, not least for the right-hand side of our attacking trident. Radamel Falcao came agonisingly close to getting the nod, as did Luis Suarez, but there was no way the tournament's top scorer could be ignored. 

Gonzalo Higuain has netted nine goals for Argentina as they have surged to the top of the qualifying table, needing just two wins from their last five matches to assure their passage to Brazil. His partnership with Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero up front has been nothing short of spectacular, the three working together like they have played in the same team all their life to the misery of opponents. 

It has been far from Pipita's best year at Real Madrid, but in the international sphere he has only gone from strength to strength, and he fully deserves a place in this team. 

Centre Forward: Lionel Messi, Argentina

The 2014 World Cup qualifiers will surely go down in history as the point where Lionel Messi finally answered his critics who said he left his best in Barcelona; and more importantly, the point where he learned that playing for Argentina could actually be enjoyable rather than a crippling responsibility. 

The response of the diminutive Blaugrana star to being handed the captain's armband has been better than even coach Alejandro Sabella could have imagined, as Messi took the team upon his shoulders and led by example with a string of electrifying performances. Only the prodigious scoring of Higuain denies La Pulga the top scorer title—he trails with a mere eight so far. 

Messi will fulfill the same centre forward/ false 9 role he perfected in Barcelona, and under Sabella's guidance transmitted to his international play. 

Right Forward: Christian Benitez, Ecuador

Observers of European football may only be familiar with this pacey, powerful forward from his fleeting spell at Birmingham City. In Mexico and Ecuador, however, years of banging in goals have convinced fans that Chucho is the real deal. 

Ecuador have been the revelation of the qualifiers, currently occupying second position and on course for their second World Cup in history, the first coming in 1998. Benitez's goal-scoring has been crucial to that effort; with four, he is the country's second top-scorer after Felipe Caicedo, who has netted three times from the penalty spot. 

It has been the timing of Benitez's goals, not just the quantity, that has made him so vital to the Ecuador effort. Ecuador have finished on the winning side in every game Chucho has found the net, most notably against Colombia when his solitary goal earned three points against their Pacific rivals. The Tricolor play a direct, fast game with the focus on reaching the opposition area, and it suits this talented striker down to the ground.