Colombia could book their place at next year’s World Cup if they avoid defeat to Uruguay at Estadio Centenario on Tuesday.

A 1-0 win over 10-man Ecuador on Friday guaranteed Jose Pekerman’s side a place in the AFC-Conmebol play-offs at the very worst.

Despite having a one-man advantage for a majority of the game, Colombia were made to work hard for their seventh-consecutive home win and had James Rodriguez to thank for what proved to be a decisive first-half strike.

The result leaves Colombia on the verge of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998.

Speaking after the game, Peckerman said:  “I feel that Colombia won fairly, did important things, took on the role, overcame the difficulties and won well against a very good team.

“Colombia needs to go to the World Cup. We are not there yet, but we’ve taken a giant step.”

Many onlookers will undoubtedly be looking forward to watching two of the biggest names in world football going head-to-head, as Radamel Falcao and Luis Suarez both take to the field.

Despite a ban ruling him out of the start of the new Premier League season, Suarez put in a talismanic performance for Uruguay as they picked up a vital 2-1 win over Peru in Lima on Friday – although he once again courted controversy.

The Liverpool striker scored from the spot after going over in the penalty area under minimal contact, before his theatrical tumble led to Victor Yotun’s red card prior to his emphatic winning strike.

That result left Oscar Tabarez’s side with a tightened grip on fifth place, with only two points separating them from Ecuador in fourth – the final automatic qualifying spot.

Despite suffering a 4-0 defeat in the reverse fixture, history appears to favour Uruguay, who have not lost a competitive home match to Tuesday’s opponents since 1973.

Colombia will also be aware that no team has managed to come away from Uruguay with three points since October 2009.

Chelsea’s record goalscorer will notch up his ton against Ukraine on Tuesday and his long-term international team-mate, himself a centurion, cannot wait to share the moment

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has heaped praise on England team-mate Frank Lampard as the Chelsea man prepares to earn his 100th international cap.

Lampard will make it a century of appearances for the Three Lions if he features in the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Tuesday, and Gerrard is looking forward to being involved.

“Nobody deserves it more than Frank,” he told reporters. “He’s been tremendous for club and country, he’s a top player.

“Hopefully I am on the pitch when he does get his 100th cap and I can share the moment with him because I have been with him all the way through. He’s a good friend of mine, I can’t wait for him to get it.”

Gerrard, who racked up his own ton in November 2012, insists he enjoys playing with Lampard, despite their midfield partnership coming in for criticism for the best part of the last decade.

“A lot of people talk about me and Frank being in the same team. You know, we enjoy playing together,” he added.

Lampard earned a new Chelsea contract at the end of the 2012-13 season thanks to a string of fine performances, as well as breaking the club’s scoring record.

And Gerrard is pleased to see him stay at Stamford Bridge: “He is too good for LA Galaxy. You have seen his form for Chelsea at the back end of last season. It would have been sad if he had moved away, he’s a great player.”

The skipper says the striker will play a crucial role with Danny Welbeck now suspended for Tuesday’s match, and feels the victory over Moldova was the “perfect result”

England captain Steven Gerrard has praised Rickie Lambert after the Southampton striker scored his third international goal against Moldova.

The Three Lions cruised to a 4-0 win at Wembley with the captain opening the scoring before Lambert added a second and a Danny Welbeck double completed the scoring.

England now head to Ukraine without Welbeck who is suspended, and with Daniel Sturridge still a doubt due to injury, and Gerrard says Lambert will be key.

“He’s come onto the scene with a bang, so a goal and a couple of assists you can’t ask for any more,” he told the FA’s official website.

“The manager took him off because he should play some part on Tuesday and he’ll be an important player for us.”

“It’s a massive game [against Ukraine], but we have nothing to fear and can go there full of confidence.

“We need to believe in ourselves, roll our sleeves up and put in a performance because if we were to get all three points it puts us in the driving seat.”

The captain also feels his side deserve credit for their victory over Moldova, which takes them to the top of their World Cup qualifying group on goal difference.

“It was a perfect result really,” he added. “Sometimes against these teams you are in a no-win situation and people expect you to blow them away and score lots of goals.

“There was pressure on in a different way tonight, we knew we were going to win the game but we had to do it with a clean sheet with a lot of goals. That was the only way we were going to get any credit.”

Gerrard also admitted he was delighted to get on the scoresheet once more for his country and says the team are looking good ahead of Tuesday’s vital match.

“It’s always nice to score goals, I’ve been really happy with my performances for England but if you can add a goal to those performances from time to time it’s a really nice feeling,” he added.

“But the important thing is the win, getting more points and one step closer to the World Cup. It sets us up nicely for a big game on Tuesday. But delighted all round tonight.”