On Thursday evening, Chile and Argentina will lock horns once again in Santiago, almost nine months on from Alexis Sánchez’s penalty that earned La Roja a maiden Copa América title. World Cup qualification for Russia 2018 is the goal this time and in an increasingly competitive continental league format, victory is vital for both sides. The Estadio Nacional de Chile is the location and while Chile will be hoping to channel some of that tournament winning spirit, La Albiceleste are looking to put disappointment behind them and get their own qualification back on track.

Copa América already a distant memory – both sides need a win

The epic length of South American qualification makes last summer’s Copa América seem like a lifetime ago already and certainly a lot has happened since Chile lifted the trophy in Santiago.

La Roja were embroiled in contractual issues with title-winning coach Jorge Sampaoli and while results on the pitch took a downward turn, Don Sampa eventually left his post leaving another Argentine, Juan Antonio Pizzi to take the reins for these upcoming qualifiers. Argentina, meanwhile, came in for criticism for their lacklustre performance in the final and found themselves under greater pressure after a woeful start to qualifying. Ecuador’s first victory on Argentine soil and a drab goalless draw with Paraguay have left La Albiceleste playing catch up.

Ecuador’s 100% start has already put the cat among the pigeons given that South America has only four automatic qualification spots for the World Cup. Chile currently occupy fifth. the playoff spot, and Argentina are just below them. There is obviously a great deal of football remaining but with such competition for places between Uruguay, Brazil and the struggling Colombians, no one can afford to fall too far off the pace. There may not be a trophy on the line on Thursday but defeat to either side could be hugely damaging in their efforts to make the top four.

For Argentina, that is all that matters and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero was quick to state that, “This is not revenge. It’s another game and another situation. Hopefully we get three points, it is very important.”

Messi returns from injury to give timely boost

Argentina’s difficult start to qualification is simplistically explained by the absence of captain Lionel Messi. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has so far missed all four of La Albiceleste’s qualifiers and not completely coincidentally, Gerardo Martino’s side are currently the lowest scorers in the continent, with a meagre two goals from four matches.

Messi, who is rapidly closing in on Gabriel Batistuta’s goal scoring record for the national side, provides far more than just his own threat. At club level this season, La Pulga has scored 37 in 38 matches but also contributed 18 assists and while he often doesn’t replicate quite such devastating performances for Argentina, his absence is keenly felt.

In the blue and white of Argentina, Messi is often criticised for his lack of product or the fact that he drops too deep into midfield but what the matches against Ecuador and Paraguay proved is that without the 28-year-old performing this role, there is a glaring disconnect between midfield and attack.

Sergio Agüero also returns to the side, having not played since limping off after 20 minutes on matchday one against Ecuador, and summed up the sentiments of every Argentine: “It’s a relief that Leo is with us. It’s always great to play with him. We consider him a crucial player.”  

Juan Antonio Pizzi has a big task ahead of him

Chile got off to a far better start to qualification than Argentina with back-to-back victories against Brazil and Peru as Sampaoli’s side rode the crest of the wave after their Copa América triumph.

The 56-year-old’s heavily Bielsa-influenced team, built around what many to consider a golden generation of Chilean players, delivered the nation it’s proudest moment and initially appeared to build on that but while Sampaoli’s future as coach became uncertain results and performances took a downward turn. A draw with Colombia was followed by a devastating 3-0 defeat to Uruguay, in which La Roja were sliced open on the break and failed to make any of their own possession count.

Sampaoli’s resignation, some might suggest, was a decision to escape now before the older players deteriorate any further, in the knowledge that the heights of the Copa América victory couldn’t be repeated.

Whatever the case, that is the hand that Pizzi has been dealt. The former Spanish international has introduced a couple of intriguing youngsters from the domestic league but has not made wholesale changes and with key personnel missing, the visit of Argentina is not the most gentle of debuts.

Mascherano misses Chile match and Martino has further injury problems

Argentina may have it’s captain back but in Santiago it will be missing it’s natural leader with Javier Mascherano suspended for the trip. The Barcelona defender is not everyone’s cup of tea in his original defensive midfield position but provides a vital function for the national team covering what can be a rather suspect back four by dropping in between the two centre-halves when needed. Young Atlético Madrid midfielder Matías Kranevitter is likely to replace El Jefecito and while the former River Plate player is a supremely talented number five, he is not the combatitive presence that Mascherano is.

So will the defence receive the protection it needs? Well, Gerardo Martino had better hope so because he is sweating over the fitness of Nicolás Otamendi and if the Manchester City defender isn’t fit, he will be replaced by teammate, Martín Demechelis. Ramiro Funes Mori will start and although he has been excellent during his fledgling international career, the Everton man remains error prone and benefits from playing in a settled and well organised back four.

Martino’s other injuries have limited his options in midfield with Enzo Pérez, Javier Pastore and Nicolás Gaitán ruled out and unfortunately the prospect of incorporating Paulo Dybala into the attack has also been denied but the probable line-up once again highlights the deficit in talent that Argentina possesses between attack and defence.

Probable XI: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolás Otamendi, Ramiro Funes Mori, Marcos Rojo; Lucas Biglia, Matías Kranevitter, Éver Banega; Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Ángel Di María 

Chile missing Copa América stars too

The list of players unavailable to Juan Antonio Pizzi is certainly not ideal for a first game in charge against a team with the attacking weapons of Argentina but the new coach will be hoping that his hugely experienced defensive unit will provide a solid enough foundation to work from.

Man of the match from the victory over Argentina in the Copa América, Charles Aránguiz has been an enormous loss since tearing his achilles tendon in August. Lacking his energy in central midfield to both nullify the threat of Messi and transition into attack, the last thing Chile needed were additional suspensions to Arturo Vidal and Jorge Valdivia.

With the Copa América leading scorer, Eduardo Vargas also missing there is a great deal of pressure on Pizzi to find a way to remain compact and frustrate Argentina as they did last July, while not isolating Alexis Sánchez. La Roja might be without key names but will know Argentina’s weaknesses. If the likes of Beausejour can provide width and get at the full-backs or Sánchez can get in behind what is a sluggish central defence, Chile pose a threat.

Probable XI: Claudio Bravo; Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Gonzalo Jara, Eugenio Mena; Marcelo Díaz, Felipe Gutiérrez; Fabián Orellana, Matías Fernández, Jean Beausejour; Alexis Sánchez