There will be no Lionel Messi for Argentina and no Neymar for Brazil in two decisive rounds of South American World Cup qualifying.

That expanded field means Argentina is already well on its way to a World Cup return, but the table is tightening as Brazil are struggling to recover after a slow start, while Colombia and Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay are dangerous but have had hiccups and Bolivia had won three in a row to thicken the plot in the race for the final

Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is the latest player to pull out of Argentina’s squad for this month’s World Cup Qualifying games due to an injury.The Nerazzurri captain has sustained a