| Argentina's coach, former legend Diego Maradona, | | | | Uruguay that'll decide Argentina's fate. Both Argentina |
| who gave the soccer shirt 10 an iconic status back in | | | | and Uruguay could be vying for fifth place in the South |
| the day, prayed for divine intervention hoping that his | | | | American qualifying group, making it a critical match. |
| team reaches the 2010 World Cup at South Africa. | | | | Meanwhile, Brazilian coach Dunga has earmarked a 24 |
| After a 3-1 defeat against rival Brazil, that too, on | | | | man team before the South American group's final |
| home ground, things don't look too good for the | | | | two games, hoping to give more players experience. |
| Argentineans. It was their first defeat at home after | | | | Brazil will soon play Bolivia, followed by Venezuela. |
| being defeated 5-0 by Colombia 16 years back. But | | | | Dunga explained, "We have two games ahead and |
| Maradona stood his ground, repeating, "The bearded | | | | the first one is very wearing, but we'll try to do our |
| one (God) saved me many times before - and I hope | | | | best in Bolivia... Despite we have already qualified, |
| he will do so this time." | | | | we're Brazil and we have to win always. We try to |
| Having lost to Paraguay as well, Argentina now stand | | | | keep the group and give chances to some new |
| fifth in the continental group, a place below the final | | | | players." |
| qualifying berth. Ready to take on Peru on home | | | | Spain's soccer uniform number 6, Xavi Hernandez, |
| ground, plus a make or break match against Uruguay, | | | | feels that England is a strong candidate that can come |
| Argentinean fans are keeping their fingers crossed, as | | | | in the way of Spain's World Cup dreams. Backing |
| is their coach. "We have to get it into our heads that | | | | England as one of his favorites to win the 2010 World |
| these two games are crucial to our hopes and we | | | | Cup, the midfielder feels that, "England were the big |
| can't keep giving things away such as we did against | | | | absence from Euro 2008 and I expect they are itching |
| Brazil," said Maradona. Recently, while on a slimming | | | | to show they can win the World Cup. They will be |
| course in Italy, fans surrounded him, complaining that a | | | | among our biggest rivals along with Brazil, Italy and |
| World Cup without Argentina just wouldn't be the | | | | Germany. And we might see a surprise this time from |
| same... He is said to have responded, "Don't worry, | | | | an African country like Ivory Coast. They look very |
| Argentina will be there." So, it's a match against the | | | | strong to me right now." Let's see how the cookie |
| Peruvians and another crucial game against arch rivals | | | | crumbles... Only time will tell. |