Brazil becomes first to qualify for 2018 World Cup
ZURICH (Reuters) – Brazil has become the first team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, maintaining its proud record as the tournament’s only ever-present side with a little help from Lionel Messi’s foul mouth and lightly-regarded Peru.
The five-time champion beat Paraguay 3-0 on Tuesday for its eighth successive win in the South American qualifying competition.
That in itself was not enough to confirm participation in Russia, but Peru’s surprise 2-1 win over Uruguay in a later game guaranteed Brazil a top-four finish.
With four rounds of fixtures remaining, Brazil has 33 points, followed by Colombia (24), Uruguay and Chile (23). Argentina (22) is currently in fifth place, which earns a two-legged playoff against the top-ranked Oceania region side.
Uruguay and Argentina still have to face each other which means it is impossible for both to overtake Brazil.
Argentina dropped down the standings after losing 2-0 away to Bolivia at high altitude in La Paz, weakened by the absence of Messi as he began a four-match suspension.
The five-time world player of the year was banned less than six hours before kickoff for swearing at a linesman in the previous match, a 1-0 win over Chile.
He will now only be available for the last of Argentina’s games, a potentially key match in Ecuador.
Russia is guaranteed a place as the host of the tournament.
US keeps hopes alive, Mexico takes control in CONCACAF
Meanwhile, the United States remains in contention for a spot at next year’s World Cup after Bruce Arena’s side battled to a scrappy 1-1 away draw against Panama in CONCACAF qualifying on Tuesday night.
A loss would have left the US anchored equal bottom in the sixteam group known as the Hexagonal, but the draw sends it home relieved and still in contention for one of the three automatic spots to Russia 2018.
Mexico extended its lead to three points atop the group with a 1-0 away win over Trinidad and Tobago, a second-half goal by Diego Reyes in Port of Spain lifting El Tri to 10 points from four games.
Costa Rica is second on seven points after a 1-1 away draw at Honduras, followed by Panama on five points, the US and the Hondurans on four, while Trinidad has three points.
In Panama City, teenager Christian Pulisic set up striker Clint Dempsey for his 56th international goal as the US took the lead in the 39th minute.
But Panama was on equal terms four minutes later when the American defense failed to deal with a long throwin, the ball bobbling to Gabriel Gomez, who fired home from close range.
After the match, US goalkeeper Tim Howard considered the result as one point gained rather than two points lost.
“We didn’t tie the game, we won a dogfight,” he said in a pitch-side interview. “It’s tough away from home in qualifying. We had to get a point.”
Arena, who took over after the Americans lost the first two games of their qualifying campaign under Jurgen Klinsmann, was happy with the result, if not the officiating.
“The referee didn’t blow his whistle too much,” he said wryly, while conceding Mexico was now likely to win the group.
Deulofeu, video technology help Spain tame France
Also, Spain’s Gerard Deulofeu scored one and created another, but had to share the limelight with the video assistant referee in a 2-0 friendly win over France in Paris on Tuesday night.
David Silva put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot on 68 minutes after Deulofeu was fouled in the box by France defender Laurent Koscielny.
Deulofeu, who is currently on-loan at AC Milan, then converted a Silva cross nine minutes later, but his celebrations were briefly curtailed by an offside flag. The goal, however, was awarded after German referee Felix Zwayer asked the video assistant to check the decision.
Video technology had already played a key role in the match after France striker Antoine Griezmann, who plays in Spain with Atletico Madrid, had hit the back of the net with a header early in the second half.
His effort, however, was disallowed after replays showed defender Layvin Kurzawa, who was involved in the move, was offside.
The game really came to life in the second half and will no doubt feed the debate on the use of video technology, which is currently being tested ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Tuesday’s match was the first time it had featured in an international in France.
“If the final decisions are correct, then why not, but it does change football a bit,” said Francecoach Didier Deschamps. “It played against us tonight but I guess it will be the same for everybody. That’s the way football is going and we need to adapt to it,” he added.