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Argentina qualifies for FIFA World Cup 2022 after scoreless draw against Brazil

Argentina secured a place in next year’s World Cup after a 0-0 draw against Brazil on Tuesday, giving Lionel Messi one more shot at winning the only major trophy missing in his career.

Second-place Argentina qualified after Chile lost 2-0 at home to third-place Ecuador.

Competition leading Brazil had already secured the first of South America’s four direct entries to Qatar 2022.

Argentina qualifies for FIFA World Cup 2022 after scoreless draw against Brazil

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

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

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 Argentina’s 1-0 win over Uruguay last week so he could recover to face Brazil.

“It is not easy to play with the pace that this match demanded,” 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 team’s defense was once more tested and once more succeeded in qualifiers.

“Today we didn’t score, we missed some opportunities, but once again we have a clean sheet,” he said. “We hope to arrive well at the World Cup.”

Brazil leads South American qualifiers with 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.

Two-time World Cup champion Uruguay lost 3-0 at Bolivia and will finish the year out of qualifying positions for a spot in Qatar, in seventh place in the 10-team round-robin competition.

The Uruguay squad has four matches remaining to push for qualification.

The top four teams in South America earn direct entry to the World Cup. The fifth-place team goes into an intercontinental playoff for a spot in Qatar next year.

 

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