The South American soccer giants missed their largest 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 largest 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 overwhelmed 1-0 by Argentina in a bitterly disappointing Copa America remaining 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 option 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 cross. Rodriguez made amends on the hour together with his penalty, awarded after a video assessment, securing the win on the Metropolitano Stadium.
“It’s a nice win towards an Argentina workforce that has received all of it,” Rodriguez stated. “The climate was powerful, it was so scorching, however we had a wonderful match. It’s a honest win.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated the warmth had an impression on the match.
“The warmth is identical for each, however it’s evident that there have been not good situations for us to see a spectacle,” the coach stated.
Paraguay 1-0 Brazil
Gomez scored for Paraguay from the sting of the field, with the ball deflecting in off goalkeeper Alisson’s proper put up. 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 workforce will probably be within the subsequent World Cup remaining. The defeat at Paraguay steered he’s nonetheless miles away from delivering on that promise.
His thought of beginning towards a defensively sound Paraguay workforce with a trio of Actual Madrid strikers – Vinicius Junior, Endrick and Rodrygo – clearly failed. Midfielder Lucas Moura stated “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 stated.
Defender Marquinhos stated Brazil’s squad doesn’t have “the same old confidence” in current instances.
“We’re looking for one of the simplest ways to play,” he stated. “There are numerous 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 target for a spot on the World Cup 2026, which is being co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
With the match expanded to 48 groups, the highest six finishers in South American qualifying will win a berth to the finals.
The seventh positioned workforce in qualifying goes into an inter-confederation playoff, with the underside three groups eradicated.