November 8th to 21st, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [CONMEBOL])

A Chapter by Steve Clark

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2021.

November 8th to 21st, 2021 (World Cup Qualifiers [CONMEBOL])

World Cup Qualifiers

Argentina needed to bounce back after their October draw and guarantee a place at the World Cup, and with two changes to intent on making that happen. Brazil shifted their make up dramatically in the hopes of also qualifying. However, Argentina looked the better of the two sides early, and Lionel Messi set up Ángel di María with a deft pass in the 37th minute to open the scoring. Argentina, though, dropped their defensive guard right before the break, and poor clearances led to Neymar slotting home an equaliser. It was not enough for Brazil, as Rodrigo De Paul shot from outside the box in the 62nd minute to ensure Argentina’s place at Qatar.

Ecuador changed their side from July to bridge the gap between them and Brazil in their efforts against Venezuela. Though the hosts had the better possession in the first half, it was Venezuela who broke the deadlock right before halftime via Salomon Rondón. The Ecuadorians in the second half were like deer in headlights; Venezuela closed them down at every opportunity. When Ayrton Preciado fouled in the box, receiving a yellow card, defender Jhon Chancellor stepped up and ensured Venezuela’s second goal. Tight marking ensured the result stayed that way, and Venezuela overtook Ecuador in the group with their first win.

	CONMEBOL WCQ Gr A	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Argentina	7	5	2	0	17	+5
2	Brazil	6	3	1	2	10	+2
3	Venezuela	7	1	4	2	7	0
4	Ecuador	6	2	0	4	6	0
5	Bolivia	6	0	3	3	3	-7

Paraguay switched their formation back to their winning formation after October’s 5-0 loss, while Chile made a few alterations. However, it was Paraguay who found two goals in the first half, before substitute Braian Samudio capped off a vital win. Santiago Arzamendia got the ball rolling, with a low shot across the face of goal out of reach of the Chilean goalkeeper. Ángel Romero then headed from a right-wing cross to double the lead. Samudio gained his second goal of the Qualifiers with a late chip shot, exacting revenge on Chile and gifting the visitors their first loss.

Radamel Falcao scored yet another hat trick as he did in October, this time away to Uruguay as Colombia and Uruguay swapped positions on the Group B table. Both sides had chances in the first half, before Falcao made the most of a bumbling defensive error and chipped the Uruguayan goalkeeper. He also capitalised on a poor clearance in the second half, finding the back of the net when the ball became free. His third placed the nail in the Uruguayan coffin, with less chance now of them making it to the World Cup. Instead, Colombia showed why they are still in contention of not only qualifying but winning the whole tournament. The key will be for Falcao to remain fit.