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On Friday, Argentina secured a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in their qualification for the World Cup in South America, despite the missing Lionel Messi and Lataro Martinez.
Thiago Almada scored a decisive goal with a great strike outside the frame, placing the ruling champions just one point of securing a direct qualification for the tournament in the next year.
Currently leading 28 points from 13 matches, Argentina could confirm its place on Tuesday with the least draw against Brazil at home.
Coach Lionel Scaloni’s has a pleasant advantage of 15 points compared to the seventh -ranked Bolivia, and only five rounds remained in qualifying.
The last time Argentina and Brazil faced, Argentina took away a 1-0 victory at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil sits in third place with 21 points, just ahead of Uruguay and Paraguay, while Colombia holds sixth place with 19 points.
In addition to Messi, Argentina had to deal with the absence of Martinez, Lisandar Martínez and Rodriga de Paula for their match in Montevide.
Great Wall of Argentina 🇦🇷🚧 pic.twitter.com/9PSRO1adhn
– 🇦🇷 Argentine national team ⭐⭐⭐ (@argentina) March 2, 2025
As a result, Scaloni coach included Giuliano Simeone in the starting lineup, along with Julian Alvarez and Almad in the attack.
Uruguay, aided with a crowded Centenario stadium, started well and had the best options in the first half. However, Argentina began to take control after the break.
The breakthrough of Almade in the 68th minute followed a few missed opportunities against Uruguay goalkeeper Sergi Rochet.
“I was a little worried, very willing to play and show myself why I was making a composition,” said Almada, a member of the Argentine team to win the 2022 World Cup. “Now we have to rest and wait for this match against Brazil, they will rest another day from us.
“We made a complete game, we absorbed the pressure. When we had to play, we did it. And when we had to defend ourselves, we did that,” Scaloni said at a press conference. “I am happy not only for our victory, but also because of the way the team behaves.”
Argentina will be without Nico Gonzalez against Brazil after receiving a red card in a stopping time for a challenge on Nahitan Nandez.
In the meantime, Brazil faced line problems for conflict on Tuesday, with the initial goalkeeper Alisson, defender Gabriel Magalhaes and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
