Argentina’s Lionel Messi, left, and Angel Di Maria, attend a staff coaching consultation forward of a FIFA Global Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier fit in opposition to Uruguay in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021.
For front-running Brazil, the primary intention this week is thrashing Colombia and securing an automated spot at subsequent 12 months’s Global Cup in Qatar with a variety of time to spare in South American qualifying. For second-place Argentina, the larger worry forward of its travel to Uruguay is over the health of Lionel Messi.
Brazil has 31 issues and Argentina has 25 from 11 suits — their come across in September used to be bizarrely suspended after seven mins of play as a result of considerations from government over breaches of COVID-19 protocols. FIFA will come to a decision what to do with it. Ecuador (17), Colombia (16) and Uruguay (16) cling the following 3 puts, however have all performed 12 suits.
The highest 4 groups in South The united states earn direct access to subsequent 12 months’s Global Cup. The fifth-place staff is going into an inter-continental playoff for a place in Qatar. A Brazil victory on the NeoQuimica Enviornment in Sao Paulo on Thursday will put trainer Tite’s staff 18 issues forward of fourth-place Colombia, which could have handiest 5 extra suits in hand. The Colombians are the one staff to carry the Seleção to a draw within the present version of qualifiers.
Some mathematical mixtures permit second-placed Argentina to pray for its direct spot with a win in opposition to Brazil subsequent week in San Juan, however the Copa The united states champions should beat Uruguay in Montevideo on Friday to have any likelihood of accomplishing that during entrance in their house fanatics.
There may be 3 different suits in South American qualifying on Thursday, together with Ecuador web hosting last-place Venezuela and Peru in opposition to Bolivia.
Paraguay, in 8th position, will play sixth-place Chile in a fit that would just about finish qualification hopes for one in every of them. Guillermo Barros Schelotto could have his debut as head trainer after Paraguay fired Eduardo Berizzo in October.
BRAZIL vs. COLOMBIA
Brazil, pushing for a document 8th consecutive house win in Global Cup qualifiers, has had very bodily suits in opposition to Colombia lately. And that worries its gamers and trainer forward of Thursday’s showdown. It used to be the case at a 0-0 attract Barranquilla final month and in addition at a Copa The united states workforce degree fit in June, gained by way of the hosts 2-1 on the final minute in Rio de Janeiro.
Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Eder Militão, Casemiro, Fabinho, Gerson, Lucas Paquetá and Gabriel Jesus can be suspended for Tuesday’s fit at Argentina in the event that they get a yellow card in opposition to Colombia. For this reason Tite’s beginning line up is the rest however positive.
“Colombia is at all times an overly difficult rival. They’ve at all times performed very not easy in those video games,” Brazil midfielder Lucas Paquetá informed a information convention Tuesday.
“Each and every fit in opposition to them is a hard-fought one.”
Colombia didn’t rating any targets within the 3 rounds of qualifiers in October, and can pass over injured striker Radamel Falcao.
“We aren’t going for a draw, we need to beat them and feature due care,” Colombia striker Miguel Borja stated. “Different groups have long past at them after which they concede 3, 4 occasions. We have now the prospective to win.” Midfielder James Rodríguez, who used to be unnoticed of earlier rounds by way of trainer Reinaldo Rueda, is again.
URUGUAY vs. ARGENTINA
Messi has travelled to Argentina however has a knee damage that stored him out of 2 suits for his membership Paris Saint-Germain. Argentina trainer Lionel Scaloni has no longer given any hints on whether or not Messi will play or, within the case he does not, who can be picked instead.
Scaloni can be frightened about different gamers in Montevideo. Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Gonzalo Montiel, Germán Pezella, Giovanni Lo Celso, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, and Nicolás Domínguez can be out in opposition to Brazil in the event that they get a yellow card.
However it’s Uruguay, a staff that also is in a qualifying place, which can be beneath extra drive. The Uruguayans had heavy losses to Brazil and Argentina final month and the way forward for veteran trainer Óscar Tabárez may well be at stake within the subsequent two qualifiers.
“I do not take into accounts that,” Tabárez stated in accordance with questions on his process safety. Those choices are for officers. I’ve a freelance, I’ve had one for 15 years and my tasks are very particular.”
Uruguay has an extended damage checklist, together with defenders Sebastián Cáceres, Sebastián Coates and Matías Viña, midfielders Federico Valverde, Nicolás de l. a. Cruz and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and forwards Edinson Cavani, Darwin Núñez and Maximiliano Gómez. Rodrigo Betancur is suspended in opposition to Argentina.
