Argentina Vs Brazil, FIFA World Cup 2022: Why ARG vs BRA Was A Lacklustre Affair

Argentina secured a place in the FIFA World Cup 2022 after a 0-0 draw against Brazil on Tuesday, giving Lionel Messi his fifth and possibly final shot at winning the only major trophy missing in his career. (More Football News)

The second-placed Argentina qualified after Chile lost 2-0 at home to third-placed Ecuador. With 29 points and four qualifiers remaining, Lionel Scaloni바카라�s Argentina squad cannot be overtaken by more than two rivals.

Competition-leading Brazil had already secured the first of South America바카라�s four direct entries to Qatar 2022. The fifth-placed team goes into an intercontinental playoff for a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Brazil have 35 points, six ahead of Argentina. Both teams have completed 13 games, one fewer than scheduled because their encounter in September was suspended after seven minutes when Brazilian officials belatedly enforced COVID-19 restrictions. FIFA is yet to decide what to do with that match.

Ecuador have 23 points and are well established in the third position. And then, except for last-placed Venezuela, there바카라�s a crush of candidates to qualify.

Colombia and Peru have 17 points and Chile is sixth with 16 points, narrowly ahead of Uruguay on goal difference. Bolivia are surprisingly competitive with 15 points in eighth position. Paraguay can바카라�t be ruled out with 13 points.

ARGENTINA 0, BRAZIL 0

Few opportunities were available for Argentina and Brazil in a tense match marked by Lionel Messi바카라�s low key performance and Neymar바카라�s absence due to injury. Goalkeepers Emiliano Martinez and Alisson were just about spectators most of the match. 

Lionel Messi, who played the entire match after recovering from a knee injury, said he felt well on the pitch. He played for only 15 minutes in Argentina바카라�s 1-0 win over Uruguay last week so he could recover to face Brazil.

바카라�It is not easy to play with the pace that this match demanded,바카라� Messi said after the match. He had only one opportunity from the edge of the box near the final whistle, but it was easily saved by Brazil goalkeeper Alisson.

Brazil player Fred, who hit the bar with a shot in the 60th minute, said his team바카라�s defense was once more tested and once more succeeded in qualifiers.

바카라�Today we didn바카라�t score, we missed some opportunities, but once again we have a clean sheet,바카라� he said. 바카라�We hope to arrive well at the World Cup.바카라�

The most controversial moment of the match in San Juan, in Argentina바카라�s Northwest, was in the 35th minute when Raphinha was hit by Nicolas Otemendi바카라�s elbow on his mouth and started bleeding. There was no video review of the move. The Brazilian needed five stitches during the break.

Brazil coach Tite sounded unusually upset with Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha and his video assistant referees about the incident.

바카라�It is simply impossible not to see Otamendi바카라�s elbow on Raphinha,바카라� he said. 바카라�Was that going to decide the match? I don바카라�t know. It was a great match, but there is an element (missing) that should be equal for both teams.바카라�

Argentina바카라�s Scaloni agreed both teams had few opportunities, but focused on his team바카라�s direct entry to Qatar.

바카라�This year was magnificent. We won Copa America, qualified for the World Cup, and we are in an unbeaten streak,바카라� he said, in a reference to his team바카라�s 17 wins and 10 draws since the 2019 Copa America semifinal against Brazil. 바카라�To qualify so early, in such tough qualifiers, it is something to be proud of.바카라�

BOLIVIA 3, URUGUAY 0

Uruguay will finish the year in seventh place in the 10-team round-robin competition. They have four matches remaining to push for qualification.

Bolivia opened the scoring on the half-hour when goalkeeper Fernando Muslera failed to hold Juan Carlos Arce바카라�s cross. Marcelo Martins got the second in the altitude of La Paz with a header in the 45th.

Arce finished off in the 79th with another header. It could have been worse for Uruguay had Bolivia not missed a penalty in the second half.

Uruguay coach Óscar Tabárez told a post-match news conference he바카라�s not 바카라�throwing in the towel.바카라�

바카라�I am a professional, I signed a contract and it says everything I need to do,바카라� the veteran coach said. 바카라�I don바카라�t know who can ask me to do that (resign) after this time at work.바카라�

During his second spell with Uruguay, Tabárez took the team to the past three World Cups, including a memorable campaign to the semifinals in South Africa in 2010. He has also won the 2011 Copa America.

Peru overtook Uruguay after a 2-1 win at Venezuela, moving Ricardo Gareca바카라�s team to 17 points along with Colombia, which had a 0-0 draw with Paraguay.

Gianluca Lapadula opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute and Venezuela바카라�s Darwin Machis equalized in the 52nd. Christian Cueva netted the winner in the 65th, and Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese saved a penalty to keep his team in the lead.