World Cup Qualifiers:
Argentina v Peru (Oct 10)
Uruguay v Argentina (Oct 14)
This is a crucial week for teams that have to confirm whether they make the cut for the World Cup finals to be staged in South Africa next year. Argentina, who are in danger of missing out if they continue their losing streak, will need to buck up in order to gain a play-off berth.
Argentina are fifth in the South American group, a position valid for a playoff with the team finishing fourth in the CONCACAF region. Only the top four qualify automatically
For Argentina coach Diego Maradona, Saturday's match against lowly Peru at home may well see if he can perform a "miracle" of sort to give them a lifeline to South Africa.
Argentina will play their last qualifying match against Uruguay in Montevideo four days later.
Maradona will be hoping to see a change in fortune for his team that seems to have lost their way after they were beaten by Brazil 3-1 and Paraguay 1-0.
Meanwhile, Argentine media are reporting that Maradona, who had just returned from a 10-day break in Italy, is not happy that technical director Carlos Bilardo was making some decisions without consulting him.
Bilardo, coach of Argentina's World Cup winning team in 1986, was reportedly the one who publicized the addition of nine home-based players, including Boca Juniors striker Martin Palermo, to the squad.
Palermo scored a brace in the friendly against Ghana in Cordoba last week (see video), and on Sunday night, Palermo was in form again when he netted the winning goal in Boca's 3-2 win over Velez Sarsfield.
On the Maradona front, it's going to be a make-or-break week for him to make sure that Argentina will see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Maradona has been getting sticks for his lack of selection consistency and team strategy. And the Bilardo issue has certainly got his goat.
According to a Reuters report, the proud Maradona said he would meet with Argentine FC president Julio Grondona to discuss his job and that "If I carry on, it will be on my terms."
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The Argentina squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon de Santa Fe)
Defenders: Emiliano Insua (Liverpool), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Nicolas Pareja (Espanyol), Rolando Schiavi (Newell's Old Boys), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Fabian Monzon (Boca Juniors)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Huracan), Luis Gonzalez (Olympique Marseille), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Angel Di Maria, Pablo Aimar (both Benfica), Enzo Perez, Juan Sebastian Veron (both Estudiantes), Federico Insua (Boca Juniors)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors)
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