Friday, October 8th, 2021
Argentina fails in World Cup qualifiers
Brazil barely escapes embarrassment
Brazil’s national soccer team faces one of its favorite opponents. But instead of an easy victory, the end of a remarkable series threatens for a long time. In the end, the record world champion turns the game around. Argentina meanwhile makes the opposing goalkeeper a hero.
Brazil averted its first defeat in the South America qualification for the 2022 World Cup and thus continued to have a flawless record. With eight national players from the English Premier League in the squad, but without the yellow-banned superstar Neymar, the record world champions won against Venezuela in Caracas after a 0-1 at halftime with 3-1. Venezuela has never participated in a World Cup.
Brazil fell behind after a defensive mistake that Dynamo Kyiv’s Eric Ramirez took advantage of in the eleventh minute. The Seleção lacked speed and creativity, the Venezuelans defended well. Venezuela had never defeated Brazil in 17 World Cup qualifiers, this time they had a long hope of success. But Brazil turned the game around with a header from Marquinhos (71st), a penalty from Gabriel Barbosa (85th) and a successful finish from debutant Antony (Ajax Amsterdam) in stoppage time. After their ninth win in their ninth game, Brazil are now on top of the South American qualifying table with 27 points, ahead of Argentina (19), Ecuador (16) and Uruguay (16). Venezuela is tenth and last with four points.
Argentina and Paraguay parted goalless in Asunción. Even superstar Lionel Messi could not help the winner of the Copa America to victory. The Paraguayan defense line made it difficult for Argentina. The two goalkeepers, Antony Silva for Paraguay and Argentine Emiliano Martínez, were among the best players on the pitch. Nicolas Tagliafico agreed: “I think we had some good moments,” said the Argentine defender. “We may have found it difficult to control the game. There were times when Paraguay came up to us and was dangerous. We made their goalkeeper one of the best players in the game.”