Key occasions
Preamble
Welcome to a vital World Cup qualifier between first-place Argentina and fifth-place Brazil, the place …
… wait … do the standings matter?
CONMEBOL, the South American federation, has the best and fairest qualification system. No comparisons of runners-up throughout disparate teams. No draw that creates a “Group of Death.” No “playoff to get into the group stage that determines who goes to the playoff.”
Ten groups. Double round-robin. That’s it.
It’s a good format. It’s additionally fairly forgiving.
So Brazil are presently in fifth place, wanting up not solely at everlasting rival Argentina and traditionally achieved nations resembling Uruguay and Colombia but additionally at Venezuela. If not for a three-point penalty to Ecuador, Brazil could be trailing them, too.
And they might nonetheless be on track to qualify for the following World Cup, which can embrace a mind-boggling 48 groups.
Even if issues had been actually horrific, Brazil would have practically two years to repair the issue(s). The final video games on this competitors are in September 2025.
So when you’re simply tuning in to see Messi and Neymar with out taking note of the standings, you will be forgiven. After tonight, we’ll be one-third of the best way by means of our 18 rounds. Then in a few years, if the Earth continues to be intact, Argentina will certainly be within the World Cup, and Brazil will nearly undoubtedly be there as effectively.
Enjoy this sport for what it’s – a bit extra significant than a pleasant, a bit much less significant than a Copa America or World Cup elimination sport.
Beau will probably be right here shortly. In the meantime, right here’s extra on a sure Lionel Messi’s position in tonight’s sport:
Lionel Messi has felt many various feelings on the Maracanã. It was within the iconic Brazilian stadium that he suffered his largest profession defeat: the 2014 World Cup remaining. The loss introduced sturdy criticism that shook the Argentina talisman for years. But it was additionally in Rio that he gained the Copa América in 2021, his first title for the nationwide workforce and which paved the best way for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Two years after profitable the South American title, Messi returns to the Maracanã on Tuesday for a World Cup qualifier on the good second. Facing a Brazil in disaster, misplaced and filled with instability since their elimination in Qatar, Messi might have his remaining coronation, with the popularity and applause of the rival followers in what is among the biggest classics in world soccer.
“It would be an achievement for Messi to be cheered in Brazil. It’s a game at the Maracanã, a world classic game,” says the previous Brazil left-back Adriano, who performed with Messi between 2010 and 2016 at Barcelona.
“I’d approve if it happened. It would really honour his career. It would be historic. Even though he’s Argentinian, it’s recognition for what he represents to world football.”
You can learn the total article right here.
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