On the streets and in Buenos Aires' pubs, a great mystery is baffling almost everyone.

Why is Argentina, a famous football nation with arguably the world's No. 1 player and coached by icon Diego Maradona, on the verge of missing next year's World Cup?

"I blame Maradona for part of it," said 24-year-old Fernando Duarte in downtown Buenos Aires. "People are angry. I mean, it's hard to think of a World Cup without Argentina."

The 30-year-old Sergio Flores picked another target for his wrath: millionaire players like Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) and Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid).

"They earn too much money, they play in Europe and I don't think their focus is the national team," Flores said. "Really, they've been miserable. Everyone can see it."

Argentina have won the World Cup twice, but the next few days will decide if the team even gets to play in South Africa. Missing Argentina, the World Cup would lack a certain edge without its many stars and sponsors and FIFA would not be happy.

Argentina play today at home to Peru, the last-place team in South American qualifying. On Wednesday, they are at bitter rivals Uruguay. Argentina need to win both games, otherwise they could be out of the World Cup or facing a difficult play-off in November.

final five

Also today, Chile play at Colombia, Uruguay are at Ecuador and Paraguay are at Venezuela. Tomorrow, Brazil play at Bolivia with the final five qualifying matches set for Wednesday.

Brazil and Paraguay have already clinched two of the four automatic places from South America. Chile have 27 points, followed by Ecuador with 23, Argentina with 22 and Uruguay and Venezuela with 21. Colombia have 20.

If Argentina finish fifth they faces a play-off with the No. 4 team from North and Central America and the Caribbean for another berth. If they finish sixth or lower, they're out.

Argentina's struggle is a mystery. But it's also a soap opera about the 48-year-old Maradona and the love-hate relationship he has with most Argentines.

He basically had no coaching experience when he was named the national coach almost a year ago. His fame comes from winning the 1986 World Cup for Argentina, twice capturing Italy's Serie A with Napoli and his stature as one of the game's greatest players.

He's also infamous.

Maradona was kicked out of the 1994 World Cup in the United States after testing positive for a "cocktail" of performance-enhancing drugs.

He was near death on a respirator five years ago after suffering a heart attack attributed to a cocaine overdose. And he's had gastric bypass surgery to lose weight.

national hero

He's a rogue who's always been forgiven. But as the losses mount, Maradona's status as a national hero seems to be diminished.

In six World Cup qualifiers under Maradona, Argentina have won only two, scoring six goals - including a 4-0 win over Venezuela. Argentina have lost their past three qualifiers to Paraguay, Brazil and Ecuador.

"The same people who elevated Maradona to God status are the ones who are destroying him now," columnist Reynaldo Sietecase wrote in Thursday's edition of the newspaper Critica.

Earlier this week, Maradona threatened to resign after the next two matches - even if Argentina reach the World Cup. In a poll the next day by Critica, 75 per cent said he should go - no matter what.

erratic behaviour

His erratic behaviour has always made headlines and now it seems to be hurting team confidence. Maradona has called up 76 players in a year and the team seldom practises until late afternoon because Maradona says he likes to sleep late.

Last month, Maradona disappeared for 11 days without telling anyone - including the president of the Argentine federation, Julio Grondona, who hired him - to go to an Italian spa to lose weight and escape the stress back home.

During his stay, Italian authorities confiscated earnings worth $5,900 as partial payment for a tax bill.

"Everything around Maradona seems to be a problem," said a young man who identified himself only as Juan Carlos, speaking on Reconquista Street. "He finds trouble, that's for sure."

Maradona is promising more changes today, and an attacking team. He's likely to use two players who have never played a match for Argentina - defender Emiliano Insua and midfielder Enzo Perez.

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, who has played only one game for the national team, is expected to play up front with Messi.

Tevez has run into problems with Maradona and is likely to be on the bench. He has been forced to defend himself over charges he is not giving 100 per cent. Messi has also been criticised, usually looking adrift when he plays for Argentina.

"They say we are comfortable and rich and don't think enough about the team," Tevez said a few days ago. "Do you really think when we play for the national team we just care about the millions we have in the bank?"

Peru defender Carlos Zambrano summed up what's at stake for Argentina. A loss to Peru could be the final blow, the most humiliating loss of all against South America's weakest team.

"What I want is to beat Argentina," he said. "Those Argentine players will be crying and watching the World Cup next year on television."