Brazil suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to their fierce rivals Argentina in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday, increasing the pressure on manager Dorival Jr. His team was thoroughly outclassed and was fortunate not to face an even larger defeat.
After narrowly defeating Colombia 2-1 at home on Thursday, Brazil encountered a tough challenge against the reigning world champions. The first goal came just four minutes into the game when Julián Álvarez scored with a shot from close range.
Álvarez skillfully took a pass from Thiago Almada, dribbled past two defenders, and gently placed the ball to the right of the oncoming goalkeeper, Bento.
“This victory belongs to the entire team. We worked together, which allowed us to keep Brazil at bay,” stated Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni. “I’m not sure if this is our best win; we’ve had many impressive performances. A team has to know what to do in different situations, and tonight, the boys did great.”
Earlier on Tuesday, a 0-0 draw between Uruguay and Bolivia confirmed Argentina’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup, making them the first South American nation to secure a place in the tournament set to take place in North America.
Even in the absence of injured stars Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez, Argentina showcased their dominance over their opponents, quickly doubling their advantage as Enzo Fernández scored in the 12th minute to make it 2-0.
An amazing teamwork moment happened when Rodrigo de Paul, Almada, and Álvarez combined their efforts seamlessly, resulting in Fernández scoring by tapping in Nahuel Molina’s low cross at the far post.
Argentina maintained complete control, effortlessly passing the ball while the sold-out crowd at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires erupted in chants of “Ole.” However, Brazil managed to pull one back in the 26th minute, as a defensive error from Cristian Romero allowed Matheus Cunha to find the net.
Argentina regained their two-goal advantage in the 37th minute, thanks to Alexis Mac Allister, who scored from a cross by Fernandez after a brilliant team play, this wins ensures that Argentina has not lost to Brazil in six years.
Argentina missed several opportunities to increase their lead before substitute Giuliano Simeone sealed the match with a goal in the 71st minute, marking Brazil’s most significant loss in a World Cup qualifier. “Our strategy for today’s game fell apart from the very beginning. I must acknowledge what transpired, how our opponent outperformed us, and they rightfully earned the win,” stated Brazil’s coach Dorival Junior following the match. “This is a major defeat, and we are navigating through a challenging phase. However, I am confident that we will find a way to overcome this crushing defeat.
Argentina leads the South American standings with 31 points from 14 games, holding a 17-point advantage over seventh-placed Bolivia, who are currently in the playoff position.
Brazil sits in fourth place with 21 points.
“We all have room for improvement. It’s not just about Dorival,” stated Brazil captain Marquinhos.
“This isn’t solely the coach’s responsibility; the players share the blame as well. We need to focus and get our mindset right. Argentina has faced challenges in the past and managed to rise above them. We can achieve the same.
