HiveComb

Source

En lo particular, mis predilecciones están del lado de la Vinotinto, merecen disputar su primera copa del mundo y en estas eliminatorias han sido bastante más que Bolivia. Sabemos que con solo los merecimientos no se ganan partidos, tendrán que poner todo de sí para lograr ese boleto y si es con una victoria mejor.

Matchday 17

Venezuela's defeat last night against Argentina, the reigning world champions, the leader, and far behind in the standings of these South American qualifiers, was almost certain. As if all those ingredients weren't enough, there was Messi, making his home farewell in official matches at a Monumental stadium, presented as if in its finest attire.

You can't say anything other than "almost certain" because football is sometimes unpredictable. It tends to follow the most logical and safe paths, although occasionally it deviates and surprises appear, the kind that force us to remember the petty tales of Davids defeating Goliaths.

Let's talk a little about the match. The Venezuelan coach's approach was noteworthy. The team deployed a large force in midfield, making it difficult for the Argentines to attack. However, they weren't content with that alone. They planned and executed their quick counterattacks and achieved some success. They rarely created any real danger, but the Argentine defense was restless. They did what they could with the weapons at their disposal.

It's also true that Argentina outplayed them practically the entire match, but the opening goal only came towards the end, when the Vinotinto team's physical effort diminished due to fatigue, the kind that comes from running and multiplying to block all over the field.

A separate paragraph for Messi. We see that he's not the same as before, but the respect and admiration of everyone remain intact. We can't believe the passage of time, life's cruel deed that takes away from us the possibility of continuing to enjoy one of the greatest players that football has ever produced. What amazes me most about this player, born in the city of Rosario, is the respect and admiration of his teammates. They constantly seek him out and don't hesitate for a moment to give him an assist rather than score themselves, in front of their fans and in the World Cup qualifiers. He's earned it, do not doubt it.

It wasn't easy for the great captain to play this match; he was visibly shaken from the very warm-up before the match, where he was seen crying with emotion, sadness, and longing. He came onto the field accompanied by his children; if it hadn't been for them, he would have hardly been able to stoically endure the anthem ceremony and everything that preceded an official match that we all knew would be his last at home.

The redeeming aspect for Venezuela is that it remains in its best interest, as its direct rival in the playoffs also lost in Colombia by the same adverse score.

On this 17th matchday, the penultimate round of these qualifiers, "logically" played out as the team imagined, and there were no surprises of any kind. The only interesting aspect of the results is the consistent score in four of the five matches, with the hosts winning 3-0. Paraguay and Ecuador managed a draw, which definitively ensured that Paraguay will once again compete in a World Cup.

One final round of these qualifiers remains, in which the seventh team will be chosen to qualify for the playoffs alongside five other teams. Two teams will emerge from these qualifiers. Let's hope that Venezuela or Bolivia, whoever it may be, secures that spot, and we have seven South American teams competing in the World Cup next year for the first time.

Personally, my preference is for La Vinotinto. They deserve to compete in their first World Cup, and in these qualifiers, they've outnumbered Bolivia by far. We know that merit alone doesn't win games; they'll have to give their all to get that ticket, and if it's with a win, even better.

Héctor Gugliermo
@hosgug