Messi and Argentina may not be able to attend the World Cup

Argentina only managed a 0-0 draw against Peru in the penultimate round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in South America.

Peru (white shorts) successfully earned a point on Argentina's field. Photo: Reuters.

With 24 points from the penultimate round, Argentina must beat Peru to move ahead in the race for a ticket to Russia next summer. A draw in a crucial match at home, with a full squad, is therefore unacceptable for the team in blue and white stripes.

Like the draw with Venezuela earlier last month, Argentina created a series of chances but could not find the back of the net. Lionel Messi and his teammates' shots often went wide, hit the post or were pushed away by goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

Messi was the player who took the most shots but was also the unluckiest. He had the first chance to score when he connected from a corner kick in the 14th minute, sending the ball off the foot of a visiting defender and going wide. In the 38th minute, Messi came close again when he fired a shot from 25 meters that went just wide of the post. Early in the second half, the Argentine captain had the best chance when he took a follow-up from 13 meters and was again unlucky: the ball hit the post and bounced out.

Players who received opportunities from Messi also failed to find a way into the Peruvian goal. Dario Benedetto headed the ball just over the bar, before finishing from close range and hitting the goalkeeper.Gallese. Meanwhile, Alejandro Gomez and Emiliano Rigoni both failed in the 5m50 area.Biglia and Mascherano also tried long-range shots but could do no more.

Peru escaped and are on the way to the World Cup.

Peru had just one chance to score and almost made Argentina empty-handed. Paolo Guerrero connected from a left-wing cross that flew just outside the home team's goal post in the 34th minute.

The 0-0 draw left both teams with 25 points after 17 matches. Peru is in fifth place, one place above Argentina due to a better goal difference.

Argentina are further and further away from the minimum qualifying target.

With a 2-1 win over Ecuador, Chile surpassed a series of teams to rank third with 26 points. The progress of Alexis Sanchez and his teammates also pushed Argentina out of the Top 5.

The South American region has only four direct tickets to Russia for the top four teams, while the fifth-placed team will have to play a play-off against the representative of Oceania. If they do not reap positive results when they meet Ecuador in the final round and return to the Top 5 (October 10), the current runner-up Argentina will have to stay home to watch the 2018 World Cup.

South American qualifying table after the penultimate round of matches. From left to right are the columns: position, team name, number of matches played, number of wins, number of draws, number of losses, number of goals scored, number of goals conceded, goal difference, points.

According to VNE