Argentina Prepares for Critical World Cup Qualifier Against Peru Amid Challenges

World football icon Lionel Messi is unaccustomed to enduring winless streaks, having rarely experienced more than three consecutive matches without victory in his storied career. Yet, as he approaches his 34th appearance of the season, he finds himself in such a situation following Argentina’s recent back-to-back losses. His final match in 2024 will see him guided by Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni amid notable squad absences.

The Argentine national team, known as the Albiceleste, is not currently facing a crisis; however, they are struggling to maintain the commanding presence they once held. A significant challenge has been their away form, as highlighted by a 2-1 defeat in Paraguay which extended their winless streak on the road to three matches. This has put pressure on Argentina to secure a strong result in their upcoming encounter to remain at the top of the standings, three points ahead of Colombia and Uruguay.

Key players have been ruled out for Argentina, including Cristian Romero, who is recovering from a foot injury sustained against Paraguay. Nahuel Molina is also sidelined with a thigh issue. In response, Giuliano Simeone has been called up to potentially make his debut against Peru.

Peru, under the management of Jorge Fossati, returns to Argentina’s renowned La Bombonera, a ground where they once drew during the 2018 qualifiers. However, the current Peruvian squad holds little resemblance to that team, sitting near the bottom of the standings with uninspiring performances, including a goalless draw against Chile.

Luis Advíncula remains a prominent figure for Peru as they seek to capitalize on their remaining home games during this qualification campaign. Peru, struggling with goal-scoring, comes into this match positioned in ninth place with only seven points from 11 games. The team recorded a memorable win against Uruguay but suffered a heavy defeat to Brazil, displaying inconsistency in their performances.

Argentina has a strong historical advantage over Peru, having won 37 of their previous 58 encounters. Scaloni’s side will be eager to quickly recover from their recent setback and strengthen their hold on the group standings. Meanwhile, the Argentine starting lineup may see some adjustments, with Lionel Messi expected to make his 191st appearance for the national team.