Argentina match to go ahead in Peru despite unrest

SAO PAULO (AP) :

Despite the political crisis in Peru, Argentina's final World Cup qualifying match of the year is expected to be played as scheduled in Lima today.

Peruvian President Manuel Merino has resigned from his position, creating turmoil in the country and forcing Argentina to cancel its training sessions in the capital. But the country's authorities assured South American soccer body CONMEBOL and FIFA yesterday that the match will be allowed to go forward as planned.

All 10 teams in the South American group will be in action on Tuesday, with Brazil playing at Uruguay, Ecuador hosting Colombia, Venezuela welcoming Chile and Paraguay hosting Bolivia.

The matches will all be played in empty stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Brazil lead the group with nine points from three matches, followed by Argentina with seven, Ecuador and Uruguay with six, and Paraguay with five.

The top four teams will automatically qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The fifth-place team will go into an inter-continental playoff.

BACK INJURY

Besides the training disruption, Argentina will also have to prepare for the match without midfielder Exequiel Palacios, who fractured a bone in his back during the 1-1 draw against Paraguay last Thursday.

However, the two-time World Cup champions may have left back Nicolas Tagliafico returning from injury, and that could affect the team up front.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni improvised with striker Nicolas Gonzalez in Tagliafico's position against Paraguay. Gonzalez did so well, scoring his team's goal and defending solidly, that he is now considered to be a potential replacement for Lucas Ocampos.