“How can we not be classified if seven out of ten get in…?”. That phrase has been uttered by tens of millions of South American fans in recent months. In all countries they see that tie being sewn and sung, appearing and qualifying for the World Cup. We hope there will be seven, but is that so…? Huuuummm… It is true that there will be six places and one decimal place more. Not half past six, as they say. Unlike the previous World Cups, it will not be a direct play-off against an Asian, Oceanic or Concacaf team, but something more difficult: a home run. Depending on the position in ranking World Cup, it is possible that two confrontations have to be won. And it will not be played in South America, but in the United States.

Penalties, glory and drama

So six will dance for joy, maybe seven, but three – maybe four – will feel terrible, like never before, if they fail. “Seven come in, and we are left out… We are the worst in the world”, they will think. For this reason, the end of this pre-world championship can be cruelly painful.

The first World Cup with two flags

“Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador and Colombia are safe”, is another of the most guarded comments. And Chile…? And Paraguay…? All have renewed hope, although after a decade, the bottom three remain the same: Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela. A trio that barely qualified like this in the last ten qualifiers: Bolivia once (1994), Peru once (2018) and Venezuela never. And that event in Peru, more than the evolution of his football, seemed like Ricardo Gareca’s masterpiece. But be careful: Paraguay has been absent from three World Cups and Chile from two. A sample of the prevailing discouragement in Paraguay is that, to avoid booing or bad weather, the Paraguayan federation decided to take the match to Ciudad del Este, a city not very friendly to football, 327 kilometers from Asunción, the center stage of Guaraní football. “We will both be guests there,” said Juan Reynoso, Peru’s coach. It could be a disastrous decision for Albirroja.

The money is left, the figures are missing

This Thursday the 7th will finally begin the long journey to the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026. It will take just over two years. And for those who play repechage for two and a half years. Paraguay-Peru, Colombia-Venezuela and Argentina-Ecuador will open fire. Uruguay-Chile and Brazil-Bolivia will finish on Friday.

In 1998, Zidane and champagne football were consecrated

A tie that represents an unusual fact: seven out of ten national coaches are Argentine. And that will mark the end of several generations. In Uruguay, it was announced that there will be no more Suárez and Cavani (nor Godín, who retired from football), the main leaders of the Tabárez era. Thousands of fans are outraged on the nets because Suárez is still considered “the best 9 in Uruguay”. In Chile, Vidal, Alexis Sánchez, Charles Aránguiz, Gary Medel and Eugenio Mena continue to follow; at least they will start the race. Only James Rodríguez and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado remain in Colombia as testimonies of past struggles. Peru continues with the same (Advíncula, Corzo, Trauco, Zambrano, Yotún, Aquino, Renato Tapia, Carrillo, Cueva, Paolo Guerrero, Ruidíaz), because it failed to produce others that mark the renewal. It is the team with the highest average age of ten competitors. In such a long competition, that factor can work against him.

It is an understatement to say that Argentina is in a moment of brilliance. World champion eight and a half months ago, all his players are going through a great present, everyone is scoring goals, especially Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez. Despite this, Lionel Scaloni continues to rebuild. He has already invited 100 footballers since taking over as coach in October 2018. Eighty-four thousand five hundred fans will give a fervent welcome to the Albiceleste on Thursday at the Monumental when they face Ecuador. And so far there are no desertions due to injuries, so a gala eleven is expected: I drew it Martinez, Nahuel Molina, Romero, Otamendi and Tagliafico; DePaul, Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez; Messi, Julián Álvarez and Di María.

In contrast, Ecuador, football has evolved the most on the continent in the last thirty years — a sentence that is shared almost unanimously in all countries. Very strong Ecuador in defense, with many variations in the middle and Enner Valencia in fantastic condition. But FIFA’s 3-pointer is still a boring subject, like a pimple that never stops itching. We should not forget that the first two matches of the Tricolor are difficult: Argentina and Uruguay. In a worst-case scenario, two defeats added to the spirit of a three-point minus could be a cause for concern. But the quality of the Ecuadorian endowment does not call for pessimism, on the contrary. The question is how Félix Sánchez, his Spanish coach, will accept the competitive heat of the South American qualifiers, undoubtedly the toughest in the world. It is a new scenario for him. The tension with which every game is experienced in this part of the world is an unavoidable factor.

Uruguay hosts Chile in what is already being seen as a neo-classic, due to the repeated battles between the two in recent years. Always hot fun. La Celeste will debut for points under the leadership of a great technical director: Marcelo Bielsa. Undoubtedly, one will see an offensive, gluttonous Uruguay, very different from the traditionally conservative one. Already in the friendly matches of the last FIFA terms, a quick team in the transfer, without much elaboration in the midfield, which moves from defense to attack at breakneck speed was seen. Chile will have many new names, and it is unknown what style his DT Eduardo Berizzo will give him.

Brazil, full of excellent players, will start the competition with a rarity: they will have a temporary coach: Fernando Diniz, the coach of Fluminense, the current semifinalist of the Libertadores. That will be until Carlo Ancelotti takes over next June, today at Real Madrid. Brazil will rue the absence of Vinícius, injured, although he remains ultra-favourite to take six points against Bolivia and Peru in his first two appearances.

Colombia can be one of the discoveries, more by play than names. Coach Néstor Lorenzo gave him an attractive team game, based on quick performance and great mobility. They have won six and drawn two in eight friendlies, but what is exciting are the ways. Football that is much better than what was seen in the previous preliminary round. Above all, what was recorded in the sensational victory over Germany in Gelsenkirchen, showing incredible superiority, which could have brought him another goal. “We are world champions in friendly matches,” they say with some pessimism in Colombia; However, the reality is that these eight friendlies invite you to believe. In the premiere, the yellow shirt will have its rival Venezuela, which is waiting with its head down. Ferdinand bocce ball Batista, the strategist of Vinotinto, is finally convinced that he will lead Venezuela to the World Cup for the first time.

There is always a revelation, a surprise share of every tournament. What will happen in this case…? Who will be left out…? (OR)