Argentina: We;re hopeful, but it ain't news

I saw this headline in respect of Argentina's plight

Argentina World Cup spot in doubt

Now, I may be getting very excited that they won't qualify, however it is merely a hope - any realistic survey of their position will show they are on course for at worst a play-off spot against a middling team from north America

Team v • d • e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	16	9	6	1	32	9	+23	33
Paraguay	16	9	3	4	22	13	+9	30
Chile	16	8	3	5	27	20	+7	27
Ecuador	16	6	5	5	21	23	−2	23
Argentina	16	6	4	6	20	19	+1	22
Uruguay	16	5	6	5	26	18	+8	21
Venezuela	16	6	3	7	22	27	−5	21
Colombia	16	5	5	6	10	14	−4	20
Bolivia	16	3	3	10	20	34	−14	12
Peru	16	2	4	10	9	32	−23	10

(play off line has disappeared - it's on 5th placed Argies)

Two games left with a one point cushion - not brilliant, certainly, but let's be realistic - Argentina's next game is at home against Peru - the team who have lost every single away game, even to Bolivia (3-0...) - they are our Andorra - ranked 91st in the world, just below Montenegro and Moldova

OK, Andorra are 195th - they are our Belarus then

Either way this is not a game to be seriously concerned over - a maximum three points will leave them going into their last game with their destiny in their own hands

Meanwhile, their biggest threats, Ecuador and Uruguay are rather fortunately playing each other in Quito - meaning that Ecuador have a pretty good chance of winning (at 15,000 feet) - this will most likely mean that the Argies will be out of Uruguay's reach anyway when they play them in the last round

Meanwhile Venezuela will be playing Paraguay and then going to Brazil - I don't see the necessary five points there, and Colombia will face Chile and Paraguay - again, a big ask

So basically not to qualify for the play-off Maradona needs to not beat Peru, failing that - Ecuador and Uruguay need to draw, then he needs to lose to Uruguay, while Ecuador also win in Chile

It sounds like the reverse of the insanity we normally need - one thing's for sure, CONMEBOL is a little too forgiving...