Argentina, beaten 6-1 by Bolivia at 3,600 metres above sea level in April, face another high altitude World Cup qualifier in Ecuador on Wednesday. Coach Diego Maradona appeared to underestimate the effects of altitude as he faced the Bolivia with almost the same team which had played another match only four years earlier.
His side crashed to their heaviest defeat in 15 years and Lionel Messi was among players who admitted afterwards that he could not cope with the conditions. The failings of Maradona's team were put into perspective on Saturday when Venezuela beat Bolivia 1-0 in La Paz after making painstaking preparations which included three weeks' training at altitude.
Quito, at 2,800 metres, is not as extreme as La Paz but, unlike Bolivia, Ecuador have qualified for the last two World Cups and are still in the hunt for a place in South Africa. The top four in the 10-team South American group qualify directly for South Africa and the fifth play off against the fourth side from CONCACAF.
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