CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers Round 3: Brazil Coach Eyeing Dual Success? Argentina Continues to Shine as Champions

The South American World Cup Qualifiers continue on the morning of October 13th (Beijing time), with Brazil and Argentina both looking to build on strong starts. Brazil's head coach Fernando Diniz, who recently led his club Fluminense to the Copa Libertadores final, aims to replicate this success with the national team. Meanwhile, Argentina, fresh off a World Cup win, has won all six of their matches since the triumph, without conceding a single goal. Lionel Messi, who missed the last match against Bolivia, is expected to start this time around on home soil, free from the effects of jet lag.

Brazil vs. Venezuela - Diniz Aiming for Dual Success

Five-time World Cup champions Brazil have had a smooth start to their qualifying campaign. With two wins in as many matches, they sit atop the standings, edging out Argentina on goal difference. In the last international break, Brazil comfortably defeated Bolivia at home before narrowly winning 1-0 against Peru away. The match against Peru saw Brazil struggle to create scoring opportunities, ultimately relying on a last-minute goal from center-back Marquinhos to secure victory. Forward Richarlison, who had been in poor spirits and failed to score in these matches, has since sought help from a psychologist. This has seemingly worked wonders, as he has contributed two goals and two assists in four Premier League matches for Tottenham Hotspur, who currently lead the league table.

Interim coach Diniz has also been in excellent form with Fluminense, guiding them to the Copa Libertadores final by overcoming Internacional in the semifinals. In the current Brazil squad, only six players are from domestic leagues, with two hailing from Fluminense, reflecting Diniz's trust in his homegrown talents.

Venezuela, the bottom team in the last South American qualifiers, won only three of their 18 matches. Expectations for this campaign were understandably low, with few believing they could secure one of the qualifying spots. However, new head coach Fernando Batista, an Argentine, has brought new hope. Venezuela has already won a match in their first two fixtures of this campaign. Their all-time top scorer, Salomón Rondón, secured a last-minute penalty winner against Paraguay. Venezuela's defense has also improved significantly, conceding just one goal in the first two qualifiers and only two goals in four pre-qualifying friendlies, indicating Batista's focus on strengthening the defense. The 53-year-old Batista, who has never before managed a senior team, hopes to succeed in his new role.

Despite Venezuela's improvements, Brazil is not a benchmark for Batista's success. The match is expected to be a straightforward win for Brazil, with a predicted scoreline of 3-0 in favor of the home team.

Argentina vs. Paraguay - Messi's Return

After winning the World Cup, Argentina has shown no signs of slowing down, winning all six of their subsequent matches without conceding a goal. Their latest victory was a 3-0 triumph over Bolivia in La Paz, achieved without Lionel Messi. Veteran Ángel Di María stepped up, providing two assists in the high-altitude match. Returning to home ground, Messi is expected to start. Recently, Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his desire to play in the 2026 World Cup, making it even more likely that the younger Messi will not retire before then. Some Argentine fans even hope Messi might play in the 2030 World Cup, hosted in Argentina, when he will be 43 years old.

Paraguay, once considered a strong team in South American football, has failed to qualify for the last three World Cups. In the previous qualifiers, they finished eight points behind the playoff spot, showing no real chance of qualifying. After earning only one point in their first two matches of this campaign, their former coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, also Argentine, was dismissed. His successor, Daniel Garnero, has extensive experience coaching in Paraguayan club football and aims to bring an attractive, attacking style of play to the national team. This change is crucial for Paraguay, who have scored only one goal in their last 11 competitive matches, with their last away goal in an official match coming in 2020 against Argentina.

Garnero, who played only once for the Argentine national team, is relatively unknown to fans both in Argentina and abroad. His first match in charge of Paraguay will be a challenging encounter against his home country. Argentina is expected to win this match, with a predicted scoreline of 2-1 in favor of the hosts.

As the South American qualifiers progress, both Brazil and Argentina are poised to continue their dominant performances, each aiming for direct qualification to the World Cup. While Brazil seeks to maintain their top position under Diniz's leadership, Argentina looks to extend their unbeaten streak with Messi back in action.