BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – It had taken the field with the ticket to the next World Cup already in its pocket given the draw between Bolivia and Uruguay but Argentina, in the “classic” against Brazil, certainly could not be satisfied. At the Monumental in Buenos Aires hard lesson of the Albiceleste, which overwhelmed the greenoro 4-1 celebrating in the best way the qualification to the 2026 World Cup.
Scaloni’s eleven, despite being without Messi and Lautaro, knocked out their rivals in less than a quarter of an hour: Julian Alvarez unlocked it at 4′, Enzo Fernandez sealed the double at 12′. Matheus Cunha tried to open it again by taking advantage of a Romero mistake, but before halftime MacAllister dropped his tic-tac-toe and Giuliano Simeone’s final 4-1 came at 71′, with Bento’s saves limiting further damage. Brazil – which cashes in its worst-ever World Cup qualifying knockout – has not won in Argentina since September 2009 (3-1 to the then Dunga-led Seleçao) while the last-ever victory over the Albiceleste dates back to the 2019 Copa America semifinal: since then four defeats and a draw. Under pressure now the coach Dorival Junior: no resignation (“I don’t give up”) but in Brazil the name of Carlo Ancelotti, the great dream of the Green Football Federation, is back in circulation.
Meanwhile, Seleçao is now in third place in the South American qualifying group with 21 points along with Uruguay and Paraguay. The Albirroja suffered a comeback draw in Barranquilla where Colombia — which thus remains sixth with 20 points — sprinted to a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes with the signatures of Diaz and Duran before being nabbed by goals from Alonso and Enciso. In second place, behind Argentina, remains Ecuador (23), which returns with a point (0-0) from its trip to Chile. Venezuela dreams of the World Cup: a 1-0 success over Peru thanks to Rondon’s penalty propels the Vinotinto into seventh place, the one that is worth the intercontinental playoffs.
– IPA Agency photo –
(ITALPRESS).
