Brazil close in on qualification for Russia
Bolivia beat Messi-less Argentina
BRAZIL could become the first side to guarantee qualification for the 2018 World Cup yesterday if they beat Paraguay at home and both Ecuador and Chile drop points.
Group leaders Brazil face Paraguay in Sao Paulo and will move on to 33 points if they win what would be their eighth consecutive qualifier.
Ecuador and Chile are tied in fifth place with 20 points, behind Uruguay on 23, Argentina 22 and Colombia 21.
If Ecuador do not beat Colombia and Chile fail to take maximum points from Venezuela then they would not both be able to overtake Brazil.
The top four teams in the South America region qualify automatically for Russia 2018 and the fifth-placed side go into a play-off against a side from Oceania.
There will be four more rounds of games after Tuesday’s matches.
Brazil are the only team to play in every World Cup but they were humiliated on home soil in 2014 when eventual winners Germany hammered them 7-1 in the semi-finals.
Coach Tite has got them back on track after Dunga’s unhappy spell in charge and their recent form – a South American record seven qualifying wins in a row – has established them as one of the favourites to win the World Cup for a record-extending sixth time.
They are strongly fancied to beat seventh-placed Paraguay, even though the visitors have won or drawn their last four competitive fixtures in Brazil.
Thirty two teams will take part next year’s tournament, with hosts Russia already as- sured of a place.
Meanwhile, Argentina, weakened by the last-minute suspension of Lionel Messi, had their chances of reaching next year’s World Cup finals dealt a blow when they were beaten 2-0 by a spirited Bolivia side in La Paz.
Juan Arce and Marcelo Martins scored either side of halftime to give Bolivia a deserved victory over an Argentina side who defended poorly throughout an exciting end-toend encounter.
The defeat in the high altitude of the Andean city, coupled with Colombia’s 2-0 win away in Ecuador and Chile’s 3-1 defeat of Venezuela, means the twice World Cup winners fall from third to fifth in the 10-team South American qualifying group.
The top four teams qualify automatically for Russia 2018 and the fifth-placed side goes into a play-off with a team from Oceania.
Argentina have 22 points, one fewer than Chile, two behind Colombia and eight in arrears to group leaders Brazil. Uruguay, who lost to Peru 2-1 in a later game, are also above them on 23 points.
Argentina were already without suspended regulars Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia and Gonzalo Higuain and their task was made even tougher when captain Messi was handed a four-match ban for swearing at a match official hours before the game started .
Bolivia appeared fired up by the decision and got the goal their early pressing deserved through Arce after 31 minutes.
The skinny winger outmuscled Facundo Roncaglia on the penalty spot to head home a deep cross from Pablo Escobar on the right.
Roncaglia was at fault again for the second goal seven min- utes into the second half.
The Celta Vigo defender failed to prevent Jorge Flores from escaping to the byline to cross for an unmarked Marcelo Martins.
The big striker had all the time in the world to steady himself and hammer the ball past helpless Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Argentina came into the game more when Sergio Aguero replaced Angel Correa 10 minutes into the second half but they could not get a goal.
“We tried to wrestle control of the game from Bolivia (and) the team improved a bit in the
Standings
Brazil ............ 14 10 3 1 35 10 25 33 Colombia ...... 14 7 3 4 18 15 3 24 Uruguay........ 14 7 2 5 26 17 9 23 Chile ............. 14 7 2 5 24 19 5 23 Argentina...... 14 6 4 4 15 14 1 22 Ecuador........ 14 6 2 6 23 20 3 20 Peru .............. 14 5 3 6 22 23 -1 18 Paraguay ...... 14 5 3 6 13 21 -8 18 Bolivia........... 14 3 1 10 12 32 -20 10 Venezuela .... 14 1 3 10 17 34 -17 6 second half,” said Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza.
“Bolivia won fair and square,” he added. “We need to think ahead. We are still alive and we want to qualify for the World Cup.” – Reuters