A rematch of this summer’s Copa America final will headline CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying action on Tuesday, when Argentina travel to Colombia hoping to extend their near-perfect start to qualifying.
Argentina ends this month’s matches at the top of the 10-team South America rankings, even with a defeat, but faces stiff competition from third-placed Colombia, which could move Uruguay into second exceed if it were to close the one-point gap on Tuesday. A hard-fought match would bear similarities to the Copa America final in July, when Argentina needed an extra-time goal to win the title for the 16th time.
Here’s what you need to know before you tune in.
How to watch and odds
- Date: Tuesday September 10 | Time: 4:30 PM ET
- Location: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez — Barranquilla, Colombia
- Live stream: Fanatiz VS
- Chances: Colombia +175; Sign +185; Argentina +185
Storylines
Colombia: Their 28-match unbeaten run may have ended in July, but Colombia impressed in their run to the Copa America final and are dangerous enough to give Argentina a run for their money while hosting. That said, Los Cafeteros did not resume their World Cup qualifying campaign in particularly strong fashion on Friday, as they drew 1-1 with Peru. They had 70 percent of the ball and outscored Peru 16 to nine, but put just five shots on target on an inconsistent final day, leaving Luis Diaz to score an 82nd equalizer to salvage a point. Efficiency in attack will be crucial against Argentina, with Diaz and James Rodriguez players to keep an eye on on Tuesday.
Argentina: The visitors will once again be without Lionel Messi, who missed this month’s qualifiers with an ankle injury but could make his return for Inter Miami this weekend. Argentina have used Messi’s absence to prove once again that they are not a one-man team. They finished the Copa America final without him after he suffered the aforementioned ankle problem, beating Chile 3-0 on Thursday. Manager Lionel Scaloni has been able to rely on the depth he has in attack during those two games, with Lautaro Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez and Paulo Dybala since Messi’s injury. An attacking performance is expected from them again on Tuesday, regardless of Scaloni’s team selection.
Prediction
It looks like these two sides have another hard-fought battle ahead, but expectations are rightly high for Argentina to have enough quality to produce a big result and strengthen their lead at the top. Expect them to do just that, even if Colombia gives them their money’s worth. Choose: Colombia 1, Argentina 2
