Already classified, Brazil maintained its unbeaten record in the qualifiers. Argentina postponed the World Cup berth, which seems inevitable.
In a match with more marking and fighting than technique, the two teams tied 0-0 this Tuesday (16), at the Bicentenário stadium in San Juan. Brazil maintained its lead with 35 points. There are 11 wins and two draws so far. Lionel Messi had 90 minutes off.
Argentina occupies second place, with 29, and is also close to being one of the four classified in South America for the tournament in Qatar, in 2022. The fifth place will compete in the play-off against a continental team yet to be determined by FIFA.
The Brazilian team also maintained another unbeaten record. The last defeat against his biggest rival in the qualifiers came in 2005, in the qualifiers for the following year’s Cup, in Germany. In Buenos Aires, Riquelme and Crespo shone and alviceleste won 3-1.
The first half on Tuesday was defined by nervousness. Argentina’s need for affirmation and the presence of players like Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Junior and Fabinho (who are looking for places as starters) turned the game into a brigade. Sometimes too much.
Otamendi should have been sent off after hitting Raphinha’s lip in the 34th minute. Uruguayan Andres Cunha consulted the VAR and ordered the game to continue. The Brazilian got his mouth bleeding. The video referee was commanded by Esteban Ostojich. He whistled the final of this year’s Copa America, at Maracanã, won by Argentina.
It is not new that the use of the VAR causes problems in the confrontations between the two teams. In the semifinals of the 2019 continental tournament at Maracanã, Argentina complained a lot about two unmarked penalties. One of them, suffered by the same Otamendi. The other, in the sequence, gave rise to the second Brazilian goal, which qualified for the final.
After the match, Lionel Messi said the tournament was set in advance for the title of Brazil.
The falls, complaints and crashes were part of the first 45 minutes. The only plastic shots were a midfield shot by Matheus Cunha that almost surprised goalkeeper Dibu Martínez and a dribble by Ángel Di María, who slipped a ball through Vinicius Junior’s legs.
It was the Brazilian striker, Neymar’s replacement, who had the only real chance to score, when he received a free kick at the entrance to the area, but kicked crookedly.
The game continued to be bumpy in the second half, with excessive crashes and hard plays. When there was room for plays, the best moments were in Brazil. Fred, one of the best on the field, hit the crossbar at 15. Vinicius Junior received a free kick in the area, but submitted weakly. This was right after having starred in his big moment with the national team shirt so far.
With the ball about to go over the end line, he reeled Molina, holding the ball between his feet and applying a hat to the marker.
Over time, the two teams found more spaces, but not enough to define a winner.
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