Make or break for Argentina

FIFA WORLD CUP, RUSSIA 2018

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi (C) and his teammates take part in a training session in Ezeiza on Tuesday ahead of their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Peru tomorrow. Photo: AFP

Argentina's stumbling 2018 World Cup qualification campaign faces another awkward hurdle on Thursday as the misfiring South American giants take on in-form Peru in Buenos Aires.

The 2014 World Cup finalists have lurched from one disappointment to the next since South America's qualifiers kicked off two years ago, with the two-time champions invariably failing to add up to the sum of their talented parts.

Despite a formidable arsenal of attackers led by Lionel Messi, the Argentinians have scored just 16 goals in 16 games, the second lowest total behind already-eliminated Bolivia.

A lacklustre 1-1 home draw with Venezuela in their last outing on September 5 left Argentina's hopes of automatic qualification for next year's finals in Russia hanging by the slenderest of threads.

With just Thursday's game against Peru and next week's trip to Ecuador remaining, Argentina are in fifth place in the table, outside the top four automatic qualifying places.

While a fifth-place finish would likely still see them qualify for Russia -- with what ought to be a straight forward playoff against New Zealand awaiting -- a crowded table means Argentina can't take anything for granted.

If South American champions Chile win their home match against Ecuador, and Peru win or draw, Argentina will head into the final round of games next week outside both the automatic qualifying and playoff places.

Mario Kempes, one of the stars of Argentina's 1978 World Cup triumph, gave voice to the exasperation of fans struggling to understand why the team has failed to fire.

"When they pull the Argentina shirt on, it's like they suddenly forget how to play football," a bemused Kempes said in a recent interview.