Argentina secured a 1-0 win over Uruguay in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Friday, despite the lack of Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez.
Thiago Almada delivered the decisive goal with a brilliant strike from outside the box, placing them reigning champions just a point away from securing an immediate destination for the next year’s tournament.
Currently, driving the ranking with 28 points from 13 games, Argentina could confirm their position with at least a tie against Brazil at home on Tuesday.
The coach’s team Lionel Scaloni holds a comfortable 15 -point advantage over seventh place in Bolivia, with only five rounds remaining in the qualifiers.
The last time Argentina and Brazil faced, Argentina claimed a 1-0 win at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil sits in third with 21 points, just ahead of Uruguay and Paraguay, while Colombia holds sixth place with 19 points.
Along with Messi, Argentina had to face the absences of Martinez, Lisandro Martínez and Rodrigo de Paul for their match in Montevideo.
The Great Wall of Argentina 🇦🇷🚧 pic.twitter.com/9psro1adhn
– 🇦🇷 Argentine national team ⭐⭐⭐ (@ARGentina) 22 March 2025
As a result, coach Scaloni included Giuliano Simeone in the starting series with Julian Alvarez and Almada in attack.
Uruguay, backed by a full Centenario Stadium, started well and had the best opportunities in the first half. However, Argentina began to take control after the break.
Almada’s discovery in the 68th minute came after several missed opportunities against Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
“I was a little worried, very willing to play and show why I did the team,” said Almada, a member of the Argentine World Cup team in 2022. “Now we have to rest and wait for this match against Brazil, they will rest.
“We did a full match, we absorbed the pressure. When we had to play, we did it. And when we had to defend, we did it too,” Scaloni said at a press conference. “I am happy not only for our victory but also about how the team behaves.”
Argentina will be without Nico Gonzalez against Brazil after receiving a red card in a break for a challenge for Nahitan Nandez.
Brazil, meanwhile, face issues for Tuesday’s conflict, with initial goalkeeper Alisson, defender Gabriel Magalhaes and Medium Bruno Guimaraes, are not available.
