11 Oct 2017

Argentinians confident of qualifying for World Cup

11:30 am on 11 October 2017

The Argentina football coach Jorge Sampaoli is "very confident" his side can beat Ecuador and avoid missing out on a place at a World Cup for the first time since 1970.

Lionel Messi (right) and his Argentina side could play the All Whites for a place at the 2018 World Cup.

Lionel Messi (right) and his Argentina side could play the All Whites for a place at the 2018 World Cup. Photo: Photosport

The two-time world champions are sixth in the 10-team South American qualifying group.

They need a win to have a chance of securing one of the four automatic qualification spots for next summer's tournament in Russia.

"It depends on us," said Sampaoli.

"I'm very confident that if we play with the conviction that we did [against Peru] then we are going to be in the World Cup."

Argentina drew with Peru on Friday to leave them a point off the top four.

Ecuador have lost their past five qualifiers and are already eliminated - but Argentina have not beaten them in Quito since 2001.

A draw might be enough for Sampaoli's side to finish fifth and enter a play-off against New Zealand, providing Peru lose at home to fourth-placed Colombia.

"The team is angry but thinking that if they win in Ecuador, they will qualify," added Sampaoli. "There is a conviction that strikes me very much.

"We will continue searching, as we did with Venezuela and Peru."