World Cup qualifying- South America preview

[David Votoupal]

Round 11
Uruguay v Paraguay
Argentina v Venezuela
Colombia v Bolivia
Ecuador v Brazil
Peru v Chile

Round 12
Venezuela v Colombia
Bolivia v Argentina
Ecuador v Paraguay
Chile v Uruguay
Brazil v Peru

Who would have thought? Paraguay are 6 points clear. Argentina haven't been on fire. Brazil haven't been on fire- in fact Brazil have drawn their last 3 home games 0-0 amidst boos and jeers from their own fans. The race for 4 automatic and 1 play-off place is hotting up with Uruguay, not unexpectedly, holding down 5th place at the moment.

Diego Maradona makes his competitive coaching debut for Argentina, and faces a possible (and maybe probable) banana peel in a trip to Bolivia.

Peru and Bolivia rely on home form to stay competitive and really struggle on the road- but Bolivia did pick up a point in Brazil, so maybe Peru can hope for the same. Not much to separate most teams in this ultra-competitive region.

 

[Part_Timer]

do you have 17 tvs going non stop ..??

 

[loyalist]

I hear these dagos are alright at soccer

 

[David Votoupal]

Round 11 scores:
Uruguay 2 Paraguay 0
Argentina 4 Venezuela 0
Colombia 2 Bolivia 0

Home advantage counts once more in this one.

 

[Peachos]

surprised Paraguay lost, makes it interesting up top

 

[Hagar the Horrible]

surprised Paraguay lost, makes it interesting up top

Uruguay in Montevideo is never easy, but Ecuador in Quito will be harder due to the altitude. I expect the gap at the top to be 1 point by this time tomorrow.

 

[David Votoupal]

Bolivia 6 Argentina 1

 

[kevrenor]

Bolivia 6 Argentina 1

They must have denied them oxygen masks

 

[Sym]

ban games at that f**ken stadium

 

[Peachos]

WTF??
lol, you shouldnt ban games from being played at these types of stadiums, it gives the smaller teams like Bolivia, Ecuador etc. a chance to get to the world cup, it may be there only means of having a chance of qualifying
but still, how Argentina lost 6-1 is beyond me

 

[Sym]

yewww we made it to the world cup cause of our stadium location

Just giving the other teams a false sense of security imo
Argentina >> all else in S.A

 

[Wilson]

FIFA tried too

 

[Peachos]

yewww we made it to the world cup cause of our stadium location

pretty much why ecuador made it the past world cup

 

[ballantyne]

Couple of months ago Rampaging Roy Slaven said something along the lines of Diego will be great for team bonding - passing round a number on the bus etc - but there comes a time when you have to get off that bus...

 

[David Votoupal]

I think most people thought that appointing Maradona could deliver spectacularly either way- success or failure. Argentina have one of their best ever groups of players, and are capable of playing the best football, but too many insipid showings in these qualifiers (e.g. a lucky draw in Peru despite going in front), but just haven't clicked even though they have depth in every position.

Bolivia have always been a formidable proposition at home but struggle away. Still, they did manage a 0-0 draw in Brazil, in which they looked the more attacking side at times... and the Brazilian fans were booing their own team and even cheering Bolivia when they went forward!

 

[Peachos]

Maradona out 

 

[David Votoupal]

Like Bryan Robson and Lothar Matthus then...

 

[ballantyne]

"formidable proposition" and losing 6-1 are two different things, and that result smacks (heh) of indiscipline, which is the key worry with Maradonna as coach. Had they lost 2-0, Argentinians could still complain, but letting in 6 is serious, mum.
Somehow, I'm not yet trusting Pim Verbeek, but I do feel his Socceroos wouldn't let in 6 in La Paz because he would have been focussed on not losing by too much. You've got to admit Argentina now have a very great deal to do. If they'd just parked the bus in La Paz this wouldn't be the case.

 

[bulldogmariner]

Argentina lost to Paraguay today meaning that Paraguay have qualified and Argentina are in danger of missing out.

 

[goingtoadisco]

Kaaaaarrrrrmaaaaaa for the hand of god goal imo.