https://arab.news/p928x
- The top six teams in South America earn direct entries to the 48-team World Cup
- Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup after losing 2-0 at Bolivia to remain last in 10-nation round-robin competition, a result that cost head coach Ricardo Gareca his job
SAO PAOLO: A goal by Vinicius Junior secured Brazil a place in the 2026 World Cup, quite a momentous home debut for Carlo Ancelotti as head coach.
The once prolific duo at Real Madrid helped Brazil to a 1-0 win over Paraguay at Sao Paulo. Ecuador secured its place at next year鈥檚 global tournament later Tuesday with a 0-0 draw at Peru.
Defending champion Argentina, held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia, had already qualified and are assured of finishing atop South American qualifying.
Ecuador and Brazil each have 25 points in the standings, but the Ecuadorians are in second spot based on victories. The two nations are 10 points behind Argentina but, crucially, more than six points clear of the seventh-place team with two games remaining in the qualifying campaign.
The top six teams in South America earn direct entries to the 48-team World Cup.
Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup after losing 2-0 at Bolivia to remain last in 10-nation round-robin competition, a result that cost head coach Ricardo Gareca his job.
Uruguay beat Venezuela at home 2-0, with goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and edged closer to one of the direct spots with 24 points.
Venezuela, with 18, is one ahead of Bolivia in the contest for seventh place that grants an intercontinental playoff berth.
Lionel Messi had a quiet night in Argentina鈥檚 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires. Luis Diaz opened the scoring for the visitors in the 24th minute. Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 70th minute to the disappointment of more than 80,000 fans at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium.
But Julian Alvarez scored the equalizer in the 81st with a low crossed shot.
Madrid-Sao Paulo
Ancelotti received some frustration from fans after Thursday鈥檚 0-0 draw with Ecuador, as his team focused on defending the entire match. The Italian coach, who turned 66 Tuesday, promised changes to make his team more aggressive at the Neo Quimica Arena.
He was welcomed by 46,000 fans, including NBA star Gianni Antetokounmpo, who displayed a tifo in yellow and green that read 鈥淧arabens, Carleto鈥� (Happy birthday, Carleto in Portuguese).
Gabriel Martinelli replaced midfielder Gerson and was one of the best players of the encounter. Raphinha returned after suspension and created many problems for Paraguay鈥檚 defense. And Vinicius Junior was often seen as a targetman, sharing the duties with Matheus Cunha.
A mistake by Paraguay鈥檚 defense, a low cross by Cunha and a gentle touch by Brazil鈥檚 new No. 10 produced the only goal of the match. 鈥淚t is for you,鈥� the striker told the coach as he celebrated.
Despite the low score, the hosts were much more aggressive than in most of its games in this World Cup qualifying campaign.
鈥淲e needed to win here for our people. Now we have more time to work, see what we can improve,鈥� Vinicius said after the match. He won鈥檛 play Brazil鈥檚 next game in qualifying against Chile due to suspension. 鈥淲e need to celebrate this. After September it is all about the World Cup.鈥�
After the final whistle, a clip of Ancelotti鈥檚 first days on the job was shown in big screens around the stadium. A raucous celebration erupted again, as if the Italian coach had brought new life to a team that only three months ago appeared lost and doomed.
He said the team was balanced despite having four strikers. He also said that Cunha鈥檚 role, as a playmaker, is the one he figures will be Neymar鈥檚 if the veteran fully recovers his fitness.
鈥淚t鈥檚 no problem to play with three or four up front. We need 10 players to run, to sacrifice,鈥� Ancelotti said. 鈥淩odrygo did this many times, I know him well. And Neymar will also do it.鈥�
Golden generation gone
Chile鈥檚 golden generation won two Copa America titles 鈥� in 2015 and 鈥�16 鈥� but is out of contention for next year鈥檚 expanded 48-team tournament.
鈥淪ad, I am feeling bad. Never lived something like this. We have to ask people to forgive us,鈥� veteran Chile striker Alexis S谩nchez said. 鈥淲e have to keep working. There鈥檚 change already, the golden generation is buried, I am the only one left.鈥�
Bolivia scored first via Miguel Terceros in the fifth minute and added a second in the 90th with Enzo Monteiro at the 4,150-meter high El Alto Stadium, outside La Paz.
Gareca, the 67-year-old Argentinian coach who took Peru to the 2018 World Cup, told a post-game news conference he was leaving the team after a 17-match stretch that included four wins, four draws and nine losses.
Final rounds
The South American qualifying tournament will finish in September. Uruguay and Paraguay each need one point to secure their direct spots. The Uruguayans will face Peru and Chile. The Paraguayans will take on Ecuador and Peru.
Colombia, in sixth place with 22 points, will play for its World Cup future against Bolivia and Venezuela. Bolivia will seek its first chance to play at the World Cup since 1994 against the Colombians and then Brazil. Venezuela鈥檚 rivals will be Argentina and Colombia.