Con Lionel Messi injured and Angel Di Maria removed from the Selectionthe leader Argentina is tested on the seventh date of the South American Qualifiers heading to 2026 World Cup.
The world champion returns to the competition in the regional eliminator against Chile after winning the two-time American championship, in an ideal situation to begin a slow change. The match starts at 9:00 p.m. and can be seen on TV on Telefe and TyC Sports.
“We are in an unbeatable position, as leaders,” summarized the DT, Lionel Scalonion the eve of the match against Chile in the Monumentalwhere Di María will be fired after a brilliant career with the Albiceleste.
Argentina leads the 2026 World Cup qualifying round with 15 points in six games, followed by Uruguay (13) y Colombia (12), while Brazil It is located in an unprecedented sixth place, at the limit of the classification.
It is worth remembering that South America will have six direct places for the event in Norteamerica in addition to a seventh place that will be through a playoff with a team from another confederation.
On the other hand, Chile arrives at the Monumental with a panorama very opposite to that of the Combined: He is eighth with 5 points, for the moment out of any classification option.
“Chile has historically been a difficult rival and it will be tomorrow too. Beyond the points it has in the table, it is a rival that has always been competitive, we should not get complacent,” said Scaloni.
However, the Argentine Ricardo Garecaadmits the supremacy of the Albiceleste, even without Messi. “I see Argentina well. I prefer Messi not to be there, but that does not invalidate the category or all the resources that the Argentine team has,” said the ‘Tigre’.
Venezuela is tested in the 4,100 meters of the El Alto stadium
In the other match of the day on Thursday, Bolivia premieres before Venezuela in the El Alto stadium, 4,100 meters above sea level, abandoning the nearby Hernando Siles de La Paz, located 500 meters below, which long ago ceased to be invulnerable. The game starts at 5 p.m. and is broadcast exclusively on DirecTV.
The highland team is in ninth place among ten teams and the opportunity to return to a World Cup for the first time since the United States 1994 is slipping through their fingers.
Unlike Venezuela, which daydreams about its first participation in a World Cup. The vinotinto is fourth in the tie with 9 points, in a good position to stop being the only South American team that has never qualified for a top event.
The UEFA Nations League begins in Europe
Spainchampion of Euro 2024, will begin the defense of his Euro 2024 crown this Thursday. UEFA Nations League as a visitor to Serbiawhile Portugal will receive Croatia in the two most notable duels of the first date of the fourth edition of the continental tournament.
Asked about the lineup, From the Source responded that Rodri y Lamine Yamal “they are ready to play,” while casting doubt on the presence of Pedri y Dani Olmo“But they are still important to us,” he clarified.
“It’s normal that they envy us now because we play very well here, and we work with judgment at every level,” he said. Dani Carbajalalso included in the list of 30 candidates for Ballon d’Or.
On the other side will be Serbia, who will play without Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in Aleksandar Mitrovic (they asked not to be called up) after saying goodbye in the group stage of Euro 2024 held in Germany.
The match between Serbia and Spain, scheduled in Belgrade, is part of Group A3, whose first date will be completed with the duel between Denmark y Swiss in Copenhagen.
In turn, this Thursday will offer the start of Group A1, in which Portugal will receive Croatia in Lisbon and Poland will visit Scotland and Glasgow.
“We can’t wait to play. Croatia, like us, likes to control the ball, we’ll see what happens. I know the stadium will be full, I hope to make the fans happy,” said Roberto Martinez, Spanish coach of Portugal.
The Spanish coach announced that he considers starting Quenda, a 17-year-old striker for Sporting Lisbon who was also praised by Bernardo Silva.
“He will get my job,” said the Manchester City player about Quenda, whom Martínez is considering including along with Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently confirmed his intention to continue in the Portuguese national team.
Nations League: match schedule
There are a total of 10 matches scheduled for the first day of the UEFA Nations League, all starting at 3:45 p.m. (Argentine time), with simultaneous transmission on the Disney+ platform and some that can be seen on TV on ESPN signals.
- Portugal-Croatia
- Scotland-Poland
- Denmark-Switzerland (ESPN 2)
- Serbia-España (ESPN)
- Azerbaijan-Sweden
- Estonia-Slovakia
- Belarus-Bulgaria
- Northern Ireland-Luxembourg
- San Marino-Liechtenstein
- Moldavia-Malta