Argentina face off with Chile in a must-win tie on Friday

Argentina skipper Lionel Messi (right) shares a light moment with teammate Ezequiel Lavezzi during a training session yesterday ahead of their Friday World Cup qualifier against Chile at Buenos Aires. Pic/AFP

Buenos Aires (Argentina): The unthinkable prospect of a World Cup without Argentina or Lionel Messi could move a step closer to becoming reality on Friday morning as the South American giants prepare to face Chile in a crucial battle on the road to Russia 2018 in Buenos Aires.

Argentina, who last failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1970, saw their progress towards next year's finals go awry in 2016 when draws with Venezuela and Peru were followed by defeats against Paraguay and Brazil. Although they bounced back to beat Colombia 3-0 last November, they remain outside the automatic qualifying places in fifth place, with 19 points from 12 games.

A defeat against fourth-placed Chile would leave Argentina further adrift of the automatic qualifying spots. And if Colombia beat lowly Bolivia in their home game, as expected, Argentina could even finish the day further down the pecking order, outside of the fifth-place playoff berth they currently occupy.