Ecuador
Argentina will look to separate itself from the pack when its takes on Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.
Ecuador needs to improve its position atop the CONMEBOL standings. Peru needs to break into the top five in the standings. Both teams will get a chance to accomplish their respective goals when they meet in Friday in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, one of Latin America's most outspoken leftist leaders, is almost certain to win re-election on Sunday thanks to heavy state spending that has benefited the poor.
The 41-year-old is reportedly suffering from a chronic lung infection due to lack of sunlight and lack of fresh air.
Ecuador is one of the teams on the rise in the CONMEBOL. Since a 4-0 loss to Argentina, the squad has won 3 and tied one. They defeated Colombia, Bolivia, and Chile, while only drawing with Uruguay. That is a rather impressive collection of teams to have a winning streak against.
The CONMEBOL enters Day 8 of World Cup Qualifications for the first time since September in the last set of qualification games in 2013. The top four has Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay. Chile sits in fifth while Venezuela breathes down their necks. Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay are starting to fall behind as time runs out.
The CONMEBOL enters Day 8 of World Cup Qualifications after an eventful round on Friday. Colombia destroyed Uruguay 4-0 to vault into the top 5. Argentina's win over Paraguay put them at the top of the table while Venezuela's loss put them out of the top 5. Ecuador's win over Bolivia solidified their qualification status. Here are the standings entering Tuesday's matches.
Ecuador continued their solid qualification campaign with a 1-0 win over Bolivia that should have been a 3-0 or 4-0 win. Felipe Caicedo scored in the 74th minute on a penalty kick to relieve the Ecuadorians who generated chances time and again, but were unable to finish.
What began as a plea for asylum has set into motion a game of tense political maneuvering between Britain and Ecuador.
