World Cup qualifying wrap preview: Messi targets Peru

11 September 2012 08:39

Argentina will look to consolidate top place in FIFA World Cup qualifying when they travel to Lima to face Peru on Tuesday.

Following Friday's 3-1 home victory over Paraguay in CONMEBOL division, Alejandro Sabella's side top the South American section of qualifying on 13 points from six matches, one clear of Chile and Ecuador.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi iced his starring display against Paraguay with a sublime free-kick, and stopping the diminutive attacker will be at the forefront of Peru's plans.

Also in action in CONMEBOL on Tuesday, Chile - who are second in the nine-nation group - host Colombia, before bottom country Paraguay welcome an out-of-form Venezuela.

Uruguay can usurp Ecuador into third spot in the group with a win in their clash in Montevideo.

In the AFC, Jordan host Australia in Amman, in what looms as a must-win clash for both nations in Group B.

Lebanon will go in underdogs to their clash with Iran, having not won in their three Group A games so far, while the Iranians are unbeaten through two.

South Korea will hope to make it three wins from as many qualifying matches, when they travel to winless Uzbekistan, while unbeaten Japan host Iraq.

In UEFA qualifying, 24 matches will take place, headlined by Spain's first match in their World Cup defence away to Georgia.

Other European powerhouses in action on Tuesday include the Netherlands, who are on the road against Hungary, while Italy host Malta, England welcome Ukraine, Portugal are on home soil against Azerbaijan, Germany will visit neighbours Austria and France are at home to Belarus.

Other European qualifiers will see Cyprus at home to Iceland, Russia will visit Israel, Romania and Andorra will do battle, Norway welcome Slovenia, Bulgaria play host to Armenia, Turkey will welcome Estonia, while Bosnia-Herzegovina and Latvia will go head to head.

Slovakia and Lichtenstein are set to clash, minnows Kazakhstan tackle Sweden away, Switzerland host Albania, San Marino welcome Montenegro, Serbia host Wales, Greece play host to Lithuania, Poland and Moldova do battle, Belgium take on Croatia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg meet and Scotland host Macedonia.

In CONCACAF, Jamaica will be hoping to emulate their heroics from last week when they upset the United States when they two countries meet in Ohio.

Other matches in the confederation include Guatemala's visit to Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana's hosting of El Salvador, Mexico welcoming Costa Rica, Panama taking on the Canadians and Honduras at home to Cuba.

In Oceania, New Zealand will welcome the Solomon Islands, while New Caledonia are on the road at Tahiti.