Brazil and Argentina crossed the line long ago in South America’s World Cup qualifiers, and have guaranteed their place in Qatar. Barring a mathematical mishap, Ecuador will also soon join them. It is certainly possible to imagine two sides managing to catch up with Ecuador’s total of 25 points in the coming final two rounds. But at least one of those teams would also have to overhaul a goal difference of more than 10 goals in Ecuador’s favour.
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Certainly Ecuador would seem to be behaving like a team that has already qualified. This Thursday they travel to face Paraguay. In next Tuesday’s last round they are at home to Argentina — but have chosen to play the match at Guayaquil, sea level, rather than at the altitude of their usual mountain fortress in Quito. The message coming out of Ecuador, then, is that…
