CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier

Argentina vs Chile
El Monumental, Bueno Aires, Argentina
Thursday, March 23rd, 2017 7:30PM EST beIN Sports | fuboTV

Welcome back to the Lewnau Sports Bureau!  I hope that you all enjoyed last week’s article “March Madness Footballing Shorts”, as well as watching the corresponding matches.  I know I did!  Leicester City continued their surprise Champions League run by upsetting one of La Liga’s top clubs in Sevilla.  Monaco dazzled too as they came back from a two goal first leg deficit, shocking Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.  In Istanbul, the Black Eagles breezed past   the Greek giants in Olympiakos 4-1.  Meanwhile in Basque Country, Los Blancos showed their road mettle by dispatching of Los Leones 2-1.  And lastly Liverpool and Man City proved to us all just how poor the officiating is in the Premier League, particularly inside the penalty area, on their way to a 1-1 draw.  Yes, it was a fun filled week of footballing action, and this week will be more of the same as we shift our attention to the International scene for this week.  World Cup qualifying matches will be taking place worldwide, but there’s one fixture in particular that stands amongst the rest, Argentina vs Chile!  Ill provide a brief history lesson regarding this budding South American rivalry, touch upon what a win would mean for either club in their pursuit of qualifying for the World Cup, reveal my keys to the match, and lastly unveil my match prediction.

Budding Rivalry

Over the last few years Chile and Argentina have cemented themselves as the preeminent national teams in South America and across the globe.  Since 2014, Argentina has played in three consecutive finals (2014 FIFA World Cup, 2015 Copa America, 2016 Copa Centenario).  In doing so, the Albiceleste have earned themselves the #1 Ranking in the FIFA World Rankings.  That’s quite an achievement, but, perhaps somewhat tainted by the fact that, in all three occasions of reaching the final, Argentina has lost.  They lost the World Cup to Germany in extra time 1-0.  They then followed that up by being stunned by host Chile on penalties after a 0-0 draw through extra time in 2015.  Finally last year, as North and South America joined forces to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Copa America, Argentina, still ranked #1 worldwide and once again, they were led by the World’s Best Player in Lionel Messi. They thought that things would be different and a Copa Title would beckon, but no it did not.  Chile shocked the Albiceleste again on penalties, after another physical 120 minute match.  Leo Messi was so distraught after air mailing his penalty, and seeing his former club teammates in Claudio Bravo and Alexis Sanchez celebrating another trophy, that he announced his retirement from International football.  He had been to four major international finals with Argentina, and in baffling fashion has lost them all.  An utter anomaly.  It is like the Buffalo Bills reaching four consecutive Super Bowls and failing to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.  The odds are simply stacked against that happening, but as Messi said post game, sometimes it’s not meant to be, and International Football success isn’t meant for me.  And he wasn’t the only Argentine that felt this way.  Mascherano, Aguero, Higuain, and Di Maria were all considering their international futures as well.  The core of Argentina’s “Golden Era” was pondering handing up its boots after another lost final.  A hollow era that would have been, and could still be.  But luckily, Messi’s retirement didn’t last long, and the morale of the team and fellow stars has been rejuvenated.  Thus, we shall witness another epic match between the Two-Time Defending Copa America Champions Chile and the arguably better, bitter, revenge-seeking rivals, Argentina, this Thursday night!

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying

This match isn’t a just a must see because of the quality that’ll be taking the pitch, the intensity that will be shown in every tackle and after every goal, or because it’s a rematch of the 2015 and ’16 Copa America Final’s.  It’s a certain watch because this fixture is a World Cup Qualifier and Chile is currently sitting fourth with Argentina fifth in the standings.  CONMEBOL has four guaranteed World Cup bids, which are issued to the top four teams in the standings at the end of qualifying, with the fifth placed team forced to participate in a two-legged playoff against a nation from another confederation to earn a spot in the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.  Thus, with just six qualifiers remaining and both clubs sitting on the edge of qualification, this is a must win game.  If Chile earns themselves three points, then La Roja will move to four points clear of Argentina, and remain at least two points ahead of lurking Columbia who are currently in sixth.  Conversely, if Argentina wins, then they’d move ahead of Chile into at least fourth place, perhaps even into third.  But if the Albiceleste lose, then Argentina could fall to sixth, if Columbia win its match.  Therefore, the stakes will be high inside River Plate’s El Monumental.

Keys to the Match

As La Roja always do, Chile will pack a punch with their physical style of play.  Yellow and red cards have become common place when these two clubs square off, thus keeping a cool head for all involved is key.  But perhaps most importantly for Argentina is finishing.  A common theme amongst the three consecutive lost finals is the lack of goalscoring.  A surprising thing to say when talking about the likes of Messi, Aguero, Higuain, Di Maria, etc., but its true.  The Albiceleste failed to score a single goal in 360 minutes of Major Tournament Finals from 2014-16.  Thus, when Argentina gets their scoring chances, the must take and make them.  I’m glaring at you Gonzalo Higuain!

On the flip side, Chile must continue to do what they have done in the prior matches, be physical, and relentless with and without the ball. Ultimately, this will wear down and frustrate a technically superior Argentine squad.  This style of play is unquestionably led by Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez.  These two players pride and passion pours out onto the pitch whenever they throw the Chile shirt on, and this will be no exception.  Vidal will try to boss the midfield and Sanchez will aim to one up his ex-Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi.  

LSB Prediction:

Unlike the prior two meetings, this time the fixture is being played on Argentine soil, and at the famed El Monumental in the Capital city no less.  Thus, the Albiceleste will have a raucous supporting crowd advantage behind them: the 12th man.  In addition, Argentina will have had this match circled on its calendar for months now, as they seek revenge for past failures against Chile.  In what will be a heated game, Lionel Messi will rise to the occasion and provide a second half thunder strike past former ‘mate Claudio Bravo on route to the victory.  1-0 Argentina