The South American soccer giants missed their greatest stars as they had been handed shock losses away from dwelling.
Two South American soccer powerhouses misplaced their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying matches within the absence of their greatest stars, as Lionel Messi missed Argentina’s 2-1 loss to Colombia and Neymar was absent as Brazil had been upset by Paraguay.
James Rodriguez scored from the penalty spot and had an help to assist Colombia edge world champions Argentina 2-1 in Barranquilla and Diego Gomez netted the winner for Paraguay in a 1-0 victory over Brazil at Asuncion on Tuesday.
Each Argentina and Brazil struggled with out their injured stars, with the replacements for Messi and Neymar unable to ship away wins for his or her groups.
Massive leads to South America… 🍿#FIFAWorldCup | #WeAre26
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 11, 2024
Colombia 2-1 Argentina
It was candy revenge for Colombia, who had been crushed 1-0 by Argentina in a bitterly disappointing Copa America closing loss because the World Cup 2022 winners additionally lifted the continental trophy in Miami in July. The Colombians appeared to have that match on their minds as they discovered a technique to beat Argentina for the primary time since 2019.
Yerson Mosquera opened the scoring for Colombia with a close-range header within the twenty fifth minute however Argentina equalised within the forty eighth after Nico Gonzalez intercepted a Rodriguez move. Rodriguez made amends on the hour along with his penalty, awarded after a video assessment, securing the win on the Metropolitano Stadium.
“It’s a nice win towards an Argentina staff that has received all of it,” Rodriguez mentioned. “The climate was robust, it was so scorching, however we had a wonderful match. It’s a honest win.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni mentioned the warmth had an affect on the match.
“The warmth is similar for each, however it’s evident that there have been not good situations for us to see a spectacle,” the coach mentioned.
Paraguay 1-0 Brazil
Gomez scored for Paraguay from the sting of the field, with the ball deflecting in off goalkeeper Alisson’s proper publish. Brazil had few alternatives to equalise and gave coach Dorival Junior his first defeat since taking up in January.
Brazil’s coach, often reserved in entrance of the media, instructed a information convention on Monday that his staff will likely be within the subsequent World Cup closing. The defeat at Paraguay instructed he’s nonetheless miles away from delivering on that promise.
His thought of beginning towards a defensively sound Paraguay staff with a trio of Actual Madrid strikers – Vinicius Junior, Endrick and Rodrygo – clearly failed. Midfielder Lucas Moura mentioned “the sport was over” as quickly because the hosts opened the scoring within the twentieth minute.
“They already got here to defend, much more so after they scored,” substitute Moura mentioned.
Defender Marquinhos mentioned Brazil’s squad doesn’t have “the standard confidence” in current instances.
“We’re looking for one of the simplest ways to play,” he mentioned. “There are a lot of items being modified.”
CONMEBOL qualifiers evenly poised
Within the different CONMEBOL qualifiers on Tuesday, Bolivia upset Chile 2-1 at Santiago, Ecuador beat Peru 1-0, and Venezuela drew 0-0 with Uruguay.
Argentina lead the round-robin competitors with 18 factors after eight matches, two factors away from Colombia. Uruguay are in third place with 15 factors, adopted by Ecuador with 14. Brazil have been pushed to fifth with 10 factors.
Regardless of the defeat, Argentina stay comfortably on the right track for a spot on the World Cup 2026, which is being co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
With the event expanded to 48 groups, the highest six finishers in South American qualifying will win a berth to the finals.
The seventh positioned staff in qualifying goes into an inter-confederation playoff, with the underside three groups eradicated.
