Marcelo Bielsa eyes third World Cup spot with Lionel Messi set for home swansong

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Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa giving instructions to his players during a World Cup qualifier against Argentina.

PHOTO: AFP

MONTEVIDEO – Charismatic veteran coach Marcelo Bielsa is on the brink of guiding a third team to World Cup qualification, as Uruguay take on Peru on Thursday needing only a draw to secure their ticket to next year’s North American extravaganza.

Paraguay, who host Ecuador, also need only a draw, while Colombia can book their spot by beating Bolivia.

Reigning champions Argentina, for whom the incomparable Lionel Messi will be playing his last home qualifier for the Celeste at the age of 38, have already qualified, alongside Brazil and Ecuador.

For Uruguay, a draw or more in front of 80,000 fans in a packed-out Estadio Monumental in Montevideo would be a fitting achievement for the 70-year-old Bielsa.

He guided his native Argentina to a shock group-stage exit at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, but did better for Chile in South Africa in 2010, reaching the knockout stages before losing 3-0 to Brazil.

However, all has not been plain-sailing with Uruguay.

While Bielsa was met with supporter excitement – and even euphoria – when he took over the reins two years ago, an underwhelming campaign has dampened that enthusiasm.

“If I had to qualify my management, I would say that we should have got more than we did,” Bielsa said of his team, who have scored only 19 goals in 16 matches – a far cry from the swashbuckling attacking teams he usually puts