Argentina suffered yet another setback when drawing 1-1 with Bolivia in Buenos Aires on Friday evening.
These are troubled times for Argentina. The nation has, without doubt, one of the strongest squads in world football but they continually under-perform.
Diego Maradona took much of the blame for a poor World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign, that saw Argentina only reach the finals thanks to a 1-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo, and then a disastrous World Cup in South Africa. It was the manager's apparent tactical naivety that caused a quarter final exit to Germany.
However, since Maradona things have not improved. Sergio Batista's reign was short lived and he was fired after a poor showing in the 2011 Copa America. His replacement, Alejandro Sabella, who had enjoyed great success with Estudiantes in the Primera Division, was supposed to usher in a new era of sound tactical guidance and authority but that has not worked, with results, if anything, worse than under previous regimes.
Argentina lost the 'Superclasico' with Brazil 2-0 but began their World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign with a 4-1 win over Chile. Unfortunately, they lost 1-0 to Venezuela days later and on Friday they were held to the most humiliating result of all - a 1-1 home draw with Bolivia.
If this had been in La Paz, where the altitude gives Bolivia a huge advantage, it would have been understandable but in Buenos Aires it is unforgivable. Marcelo Moreno, who played 12 matches for Wigan Athletic last season without scoring a single Premier League goal, opened the scoring after an hour to stun the home supporters in El Monumental.
Argentina hit back through Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi just minutes later but there was no grandstand finish and captain Lionel Messi cut a dejected figure when leaving the pitch at full time. The World Player of the Year is not used to being booed off the pitch but unless he and his team mates can find some cohesion very soon then the Barcelona superstar risks being branded a flop by his country's supporters.
Liverpool's Luis Suarez has no such problems and he was once again Uruguay's hero as they beat Chile 4-0 in Montevideo. Suarez scored all four goals for the 2011 Copa America winners, who are now unbeaten in three World Cup qualifiers and top the CONCACAF qualifying section.
Elsewhere, goals from Cristian Riveros, on loan at Kayserispor from Sunderland, and Dario Veron helped Paraguay to a 2-1 win over Ecuador, while Colombia were held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela in Barranquilla. FC Porto's Fredy Guarin put the hosts ahead after 11-minutes but Frank Feltscher equalised for the visitors ten minutes from time.
World Cup 2014 Qualifying Results
Argentina 1 Bolivia 1
Uruguay 4 Chile 0
Paraguay 2 Ecuador 1
Colombia 1 Venezuela 1
