Argentina’s unexpected 4-1 rout over host Brazil in Buenos Aires has shocked the footballing universe. The current World Cup holders put forward an outstanding exhibition, consistently clinching their berth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On this occasion, not only was the victory beneficial for the Argentineans in the sense that it sent out a message of their supremacy, but it also revealed the deficiencies in the Brazilian squad under the guidance of Dorival Jr.
The game began in a charged atmosphere at the Estadio Monumental, motivated by Argentina’s earlier qualification after a goalless draw between Bolivia and Uruguay.
In the 6th-minute opening, Julian Alvarez fired a precise shot into the net after an accurate pass from Thiago Almada. Brazil’s defense was still melting, with Argentina extending the lead after Enzo Fernandez doubled the advantage in the 12th minute.
Although undermanned by Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez’s absences, Argentina displayed extraordinary and coordinated play. Brazil then responded soon with a prodigious goal supplied by Matheus Cunha in the 26th minute, who capitalized on a slight defensive error by Cristian Romero.
Nevertheless, the moment was fleeting for Brazil as a reply was made by Alexis Mac Allister, giving Argentina a two-goal advantage one more time, which was a clinical strike just before the interval.
The latter part of the game saw Brazil struggle to regain the upper hand as Argentina largely influenced possession and created opportunities.
Substitute Giuliano Simeone buried the game when he found the net in the 71st minute with a close-range shot that completed the score. The encounter could have swayed in Argentina’s favor even more had they taken advantage of several valuable opportunities.
The recent performance has made us doubt the team’s readiness to compete in the World Cup qualifiers. Now, coach Dorival Jr. of the “Seleção” is under a lot of pressure to get his team to the top places as they are currently fourth in the CONMEBOL standings with only 21 points, a huge gap behind the leaders Argentina, who have 31 points from 14 games.
On the other hand, captain Marquinhos announced his views after the game, he termed the game a “nasty defeat” and even had kind words to the walking wounded fans, blaming them for the team’s poor performance.
Argentina’s win over Brazil proved its tactical prowess and attacking allure. Messi was absent, but Argentina still proved it is the best in the tournament and will be in North America next year. Alvarez and Fernandez were key players who turned the game on the team’s side, showing the team’s bench depth and the adaptability of coach Lionel Scaloni.
Brazil’s loss has been a reality check. They failed to cope with Argentina’s relentless attack and were very weak in defending their goalposts. Brazil needs to be smart to save its flag in the World Cup and its fans’ hearts.
Recently, well-known Japan made headlines on the global stage as it aims to write a new chapter for next year’s World Cup. Mainly because they are already the “Champions” of the Asian qualifiers, Japan is making the goals a little bit higher under Moriyasu’s oblique guidance.
Many people are surprised by the teams at which level in the past because they have consisted of players who have either played barely or haven’t played at all. Thanks to Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma, who were in the Japa league, Japan will have good defenders.
Japan’s unity and depth have been key factors in its ascent. Their recent draw against Saudi Arabia prominently displayed their defensive solidity, whereas their earlier win over Bahrain was the result of their attacking flair.
In the lead-up to North America 2026, Japan is keen to point out that they are not merely here for the show; they are actually going to be a serious threat on football’s biggest stage.
Spain and France, from other parts of Europe, both reached the Nations League semifinals after penalty shootout clashes, with Spain being the winners.
Spain squeezed through from the Netherlands match, which had a 5-5 score, and on the other hand, France was able to beat Croatia in an equally fierce encounter. They must go through difficult matches against Germany and Portugal this coming June.
As football fans are trying to comprehend what is happening all over the world, one thing is evident: the way to North America 2026 is getting more and more interesting as the race is one of the most thrilling ones we have ever witnessed.
With teams like Argentina showing their superiority and others like Japan going for their first-ever big win, the excitement for next year’s tournament is rising.