Buenos Aires — Argentina have reached three major finals in three years, but the team that came so close to winning the 2014 World Cup face crunch games against Peru and Ecuador that will determine if they miss out on the global showpiece event for the first time since 1970. Argentina desperately need to beat Peru at home on Thursday and go to Ecuador for their final match five days later. They lie fifth in the 10-team South American group. "Now it’s gotten complicated," coach Jorge Sampaoli said after they drew their last match at home to Venezuela. The top four teams qualify automatically for the 2018 tournament in Russia and the fifth-placed side play New Zealand in a two-legged playoff for an additional spot.
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