Andre Carrillo will hope to return to the Peru starting XI in the early hours of Wednesday morning to try and help his nation reach their first World Cup in 36 years as a remarkable South American qualifying campaign reaches its climax.

The on-loan Watford winger was one of four suspended players who had to watch from the sidelines earlier today as their international teammates held Argentina to a 0-0 draw in Buenos Aires to deal another blow to the hopes of Jorge Sampaoli’s side of being in Russia next year.

Peru had started the penultimate round of qualifiers in fourth in the table but the draw, coupled with Chile’s 2-1 win over Ecuador, means they have dropped out of the automatic spots and into the play-off place in fifth, remaining ahead of Argentina on goal difference.

However, with just four points covering second-placed Uruguay to Paraguay in seventh, the race for Russia is set to go down to the wire next week when the final round of qualifiers kick off simultaneously at 12.30am on Wednesday.

Playing at the iconic La Bombonera – the home of Boca Juniors – Lionel Messi tried his best to get the win Argentina craved, hitting the post and setting up other good chances, but the visitors were unable to break down a well-drilled Peruvian side.

The draw means the Barcelona magician and his international teammates now face a do-or-die trip to Ecuador, while Peru will come up against a Colombian side who had seemingly booked their flight to Russia through Radamel Falcao, only to let in two very late goals to lose 2-1 at home to Paraguay and slip to fourth in the table.