Brazil on brink of qualifying, Argentina face altitude test
SAO PAULO: After their impressive thrashing of Uruguay 4-1 in Montevideo last week, Brazil are so close to earning a ticket to the 2018 World Cup that many players are already looking for new challenges as Brazil chase their sixth world crown.
For the spot to be assured, Brazil need to beat Paraguay today and see Venezuela overcome Chile in Santiago and Colombia get their first win at Ecuador in 20 years.
Even if the “official’’ qualification doesn’t come, there will surely be a party at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo.
Coach Tite, who has won seven straight games in qualifiers since he took over in September, had his best days at Corinthians.
He won two Brazilian championships, one Copa Libertadores, and the 2012 Fifa Club World Cup title after a 1-0 victory over England’s Chelsea in Japan.
Defender Fagner, also a Corinthians player, will replace suspended Dani Alves.
A superb hat-trick from China-based midfielder Paulinho powered Brazil to a 4-1 win over Uruguay.
Argentina were the runners-up in the last World Cup. This time they are under rising pressure just to qualify.
That pressure will be felt even more in today’s match against Bolivia in the thin air of La Paz, which is located in the Andes at 3,650m (11,900ft) altitude.
Argentina have not won a match there since 2005, upping the stakes a bit more.
Argentina put on a poor performance on Thursday, but managed to beat Chile 1-0 in Buenos Aires after a controversial penalty was conceded and converted by Barcelona star Lionel Messi.