Argentina vs. Paraguay: Time, Live Stream, Preview for World Cup 2018 Qualifying
Argentina will welcome Paraguay to Cordoba on Tuesday evening for the latest instalment of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, where they're looking to end a two-match winless run.
Manager Edgardo Bauza's side have shared the spoils in each of their last two outings, grabbing 2-2 draws at Venezuela and Peru in the past five weeks, but Paraguay won't be any pushovers, either.
La Albiceleste sit fifth in CONMEBOL's qualifying standings, just four points and one place ahead of Tuesday's opposition as we head into the second half of the qualification round.
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Captain Lionel Messi will be missing for the hosts, as explained by ESPN FC's Tim Vickery, and Argentina face a grand test of their quality in attempting to snatch a precious three points without their talisman.
Read on for a preview ahead of Tuesday's clash, complete with full match information and all the details you need to make sure you don't miss the action.
Date: Tuesday, October 11
Time: 12:30 a.m BST (Wednesday)/7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba
| 1 | Uruguay | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 5 | +14 | 19 |
| 2 | Brazil | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 18 |
| 3 | Ecuador | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 16 |
| 4 | Colombia | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 16 |
| 5 | Argentina | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 16 |
| 6 | Paraguay | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 12 |
| 7 | Chile | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 15 | −2 | 11 |
| 8 | Peru | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 17 | −7 | 8 |
| 9 | Bolivia | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 7 |
| 10 | Venezuela | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 24 | −15 | 2 |
Missing Messi Sows Seeds of Argentina Doubt
Despite the fact Bauza boasts a squad one would think capable of challenging for the biggest honours in world football, Argentina can't help but raise some suspicion when they play without their leader.
Barcelona gem Messi will once again be missing for Tuesday's encounter after hurting himself in last month's La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, and Squawka's Greg Johnson noted the fall in creative power under Argentina's hood:
Argentina have won the three 2018 World Cup qualification games in which Messi has played thus far. Of the six he has failed to feature in, the team have won only one, drawing four times and losing once.
Those figures put into context just how much of a boon Messi is to those around him when he's on the field, and his former Barca chief, and current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, recently told author Marti Perarnau of his talents, per Ara (h/t Luis F. Rojo of Spanish daily Marca):
"Messi goes through the game walking, X-raying each moment.
He senses when he's alone and when he notices that the opposition is watching him he'll find some space and distance himself.
Messi is the player who runs the least in the Spanish league.
Then by the time the ball arrives at his feet, he has completed his X-ray of time and space, knows where everybody is, and then ... bang!
"
Bauza has struggled without that elite creative presence in his team, evidenced in Thursday's 2-2 draw at Peru, where Ramiro Funes Mori and Gonzalo Higuain provided the goals.
Argentina are still yet to find their plan B when it comes to playing without Messi.
Paraguay's Make-or-Break Matchup
Put bluntly, Tuesday's outing could be the last Paraguay face where they have a genuine chance of making it through to the 2018 World Cup, depending largely on how those above them fare in the coming fixtures.
Paraguayan broadcaster Roberto Rojas recently gave some insight as to whom manager Francisco Arce will start at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, with a strong lineup expected:
With four points separating sixth-placed Paraguay from Argentina in fifth, a win on Tuesday would revive their prospects of advancing, but defeat could see the rest of the pack move out of range.
Tuesday's visitors have another piece of good news, however, after Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News confirmed striker Sergio Aguero is a doubt to feature:
If Aguero were to miss out alongside crocked star Messi, it would inject some positivity into Paraguay's campaign, with Arce's side needing three points on Tuesday to revive their qualifying bid.
Paraguay will play away from home in five of their remaining nine qualifiers, meaning they need to get accustomed to picking up results in foreign territory, and where better to start than Cordoba?
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