Lionel Messi and Argentina arrive in Ecuador under armed police guard ahead of crunch World Cup qualifier

ARGENTINA landed in Quito for their World Cup qualifier against Ecuador under armed guard.

Lionel Messi and Co looked determined to make up for past mishaps as they arrived for what could be a career-defining international clash.

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Led by their tactical maverick coach Jorge Sampaoli, the side are desperate for all three points against Antonio Valencia and Ecuador to make it to Russia.

A hugely disappointing campaign so far sees the 2014 World Cup finalists languishing in sixth place in South American qualifying.

But the good news for Messi and Sampaoli is that the table is still VERY congested, with Chile third in the automatic qualifying places just a point ahead of them.

Sampaoli has been criticised for some surprising exclusions though, with Paulo Dybala left out of the starting line-up in the 0-0 draw with Peru and his Juventus team-mate Gonzalo Higuain not even included in the SQUAD.

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EPA

EPA

Fifa

That left Boca Junior’s 27-year-old forward Dario Benedetto to lead the line against the Peruvians – a player almost unheard of on the world stage.

Meanwhile Dybala was an un-used substitute, as was the likes of Mauro Icardi.

They play at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa, a meagre 9,000ft above sea level – and the sort of lung-sapping conditions that makes a must-win game even harder.

Argentina headed to a hotel in Guayaquil before moving on to Quito for the match, with surely a tough night’s sleep ahead for some of the country’s superstars.

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EPA

AFP

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AFP

Rex Features

Rex Features

AFP

The likes of Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano were also in tow as the players marched into Ecuador with stern looks on their faces.

They know that if they fail to make it to Russia, tough questions will be asked from the demanding Argentinian public.