Patriots playoffs

It’s funny, and also curious. On the one hand, the eternal crises that economically and politically affect South America, the violence and corruption that happily reign in our regions, the deplorable rates of poverty and involution in many areas, which speaks very badly of us as citizens. On the other hand, the fervor that pours into every qualifying match. The stadiums are full, nationalisms flare up, anthems are passionately sung, hands on the chest, hearts galloping. We are first class patriots… in the stadium.

Why are we so passionate about eliminating…? Why does it bring us to the extremes of utter joy or the cruelest despair…? If a rower loses a regatta, well… bad luck. If a cyclist fails in the Tour de France, it will happen again. If a weightlifter doesn’t win a medal, be patient. But if the team falls, the people roar. Because…? Football is not rowing, fencing, cycling, tennis or weight training. It is a reflection of national identity, our character and our capabilities. If the selection is bad, especially if it is weak, we feel like we are the last fools. And that cannot be. Then there is a mixed feeling of anger, disappointment and bitterness. We have experienced this many times. No other competition activates this feeling like elimination. It is an authentic tournament of nations that creates national joy or tension. And we see that in just two sessions of this World Cup race. It is already burning in several countries.

Terrifying. That and other adjectives competing in the drama were used by the Bolivian press to define their national team’s 3-0 loss to Argentina in La Paz. Bolivia were completely outmatched, they found themselves disoriented, helpless against a team with an extraordinary ability to circulate the ball without the opposition feeling it. Why are we starting with Bolivia if it is the last…? For what we pointed out at the beginning: for that mixture of anger, disappointment and bitterness that is embedded in the population after a terrifying performance, without category, without ideas and without rebellion. Today, Bolivia is, without a doubt, the tenth South American national team. There are no numbers, there is a deep general discouragement, they have just canceled their local championship for the second year in a row due to allegations of corruption, and the tie started with zero from six. And with eight goals against. He has one consolation left: the exact same touch that La Verde got Argentina gave France in the final of Qatar 2022. And France is…

I’m sorry. “You have to ask people for forgiveness. We should be ashamed; “We can’t lose like that.” From Gustavo Costas, Bolivia coach, after his team’s terrible game against Argentina. “This has to be Bolivia’s worst home game in forty years,” said Carlos Mesa, the former president Nation and a magnificent sports journalist.

praises. Marcelo Díaz, the former midfielder of Chile’s two-time champion in America, published an unusual compliment on his Instagram profile about Celeste and Blanca: “They play like a real team in their national team, they are in the best clubs in the world.” the world, they have the best player in the world. the world, they are WORLD CHAMPIONS, they are all millionaires and hit their heads on every ball as if they lack sports glory. “They are admirable and a fine example for the sport in general.”

Leader. Argentina is becoming an old team. They have only one loss in 49 games. On Tuesday, he organized an exhibition at the height of La Paz. And without Messi. The work has an author: Lionel Scaloni. He has absolutely exceptional group management, unbecoming of a 45-year-old. He never dramatizes the situation, does not exaggerate his triumph, in every decision, in every public appearance, he gives leadership mastery. Without going to college, he was able to give a masterclass at Harvard Business School for future CEOs.

Haunted. Just a few days before the start of the qualifiers, Julio Enciso, Brighton’s brilliant Paraguayan striker, was seriously injured. He couldn’t be in the first two days. In the debut against Peru, Albirroja dominated, pressed, attacked, put six shots on the box and there were a dozen miraculous blocks from Gallese (or very miraculous), eleven corners to one in favor of Peru, 60% possession of the ball Paraguay (which seemed more that…), 19 Guarani shots to 5 from Peru… And they tied 0:0. They went to Venezuela and after an even match lost at the last moment due to a penalty shot by Rondón. Paraguay did not participate in the World Cup for three years. Not enough light, not enough luck.

An outburst. Among many other disqualifying epithets, Paraguayan communication scholar Enrique Vargas Peña from the newspaper ABC color, he treated Guillermo Barros Schelotto as a “jerk disguised as a technical director” and the president of the Paraguayan federation, Robert Harrison, as “garbage”. From the rage caused by the passion of the tie. Paraguay has been absent for three World Cups, and the public and media are on fire. ABC It is the most influential newspaper in Asunción.

Indicated. He has recovered, his team shows intensity, attitude, but they are not given victories. Eduardo Berizzo played thirteen games in La Roja with three wins, five draws and five losses. And victories, only one serious one, against Paraguay in a friendly; the other two, about Cuba and the Dominican Republic, are purely statistical. It’s a relief that the competition has just started, but that doesn’t suit Chile.

Triumph. The one from Ecuador via Uruguay, a turnaround despite the missed penalty, which always breaks morale. It is Tricolor’s fourth consecutive win over Celeste in Quito in World Cup races. A concrete fact about how times are changing. And an honorable mention for Félix Torres, a crack defending that when he goes up he won’t see what’s going to happen: he goes up to score.

Bravery. The one about coach Félix Sánchez about sending Kendry Páez to the field at the age of 16. You play for effect, not document. He saw it well and put it on. Also, to continue with Gonzalo Plata, who has stagnated in the game (he’s young, he can re-emerge), it was worth throwing the kid on the grass in a hot game and seeing what he’s made of. And the boy showed his: he didn’t crumple, he wasn’t burdened, he has class, he made a low cross that meant the winning goal. Welcome Kendry, football needs new talent.

Unusual. The double penalty that Wilton Sampaio did not realize in the last moment of the game. Above all, the one from Galíndez to Sebastián Cáceres. Galíndez doesn’t even have the argument that he touched the ball first: he never touched it. Rarely is a penalty such a penalty. He was too rude not to see that. And then that of Kevin Rodríguez Pellistria. Sampaio went further: he ended the match there so that VAR could not intervene. Such failures are almost not seen in modern football. Ecuador returned to Uruguay the confiscated property it suffered in Montevideo 2021. So everyone shut up.

sadness. That Ecuador will not host next year’s Copa América, an edition that was supposed to alternate. With the current team and playing at home, they were a big favorite to win the title. In the United States, this could also happen, but it is a different scenario, with a higher degree of difficulty. (OR)

South American qualifiers 2026