Football

Argentina and Brazil, the South American powerhouses, faced contrasting fortunes in their World Cup qualifying matches on Tuesday. Argentina secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Peru, while Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay.Argentina's triumph was courtesy of a stunning volley from Lautaro Martinez in the first half. Lionel Messi provided the assist with a pinpoint cross, and Martinez unleashed a thunderous left-footed shot past Peru's goalkeeper. Despite a lackluster performance, Argentina's victory solidifies their position at the top of the CONMEBOL standings.Brazil, on the other hand, struggled against Uruguay in Salvador. Federico Valverde gave Uruguay the lead in the 55th minute with a clinical finish. However, Brazil responded quickly, with Gerson equalizing seven minutes later with a well-taken volley. Despite Brazil's dominance, they were unable to find a winning goal, leaving them in fifth place in the standings.Colombia suffered an upset at home, losing 1-0 to Ecuador. Enner Valencia scored the only goal of the match in the seventh minute, stunning the Colombian crowd. Colombia's Jhon Cordoba missed a golden opportunity to equalize, and Ecuador held on to their lead despite being reduced to 10 men after Piero Hincapie was sent off in the 34th minute.Paraguay and Bolivia played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. Bolivia took the lead twice, but Paraguay fought back each time. Miguel Almiron equalized for Paraguay in the 71st minute, and Julio Enciso secured a point in stoppage time with a magnificent solo effort.Chile boosted their faint hopes of qualifying for the World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Venezuela. The win leaves Chile in ninth place, but they have a lot of work to do to secure one of the six automatic qualification spots.

Kerala is set to witness a historic sporting event as the Argentina football team, led by legendary player Lionel Messi, will visit the state for an international match in 2025. The announcement was made by Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.The match will be conducted under the complete supervision of the State government, with financial assistance provided by the merchants of Kerala. The Minister expressed confidence in the state's ability to host the prestigious occasion.The Argentina football team is one of the most successful in the world, having won the FIFA World Cup twice and the Copa América 15 times. Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has been instrumental in the team's success.The match is expected to attract a large number of football enthusiasts from across the country and beyond. It will provide a unique opportunity for Kerala to showcase its sporting infrastructure and hospitality.The State government is making elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. The match will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi, which has a capacity of over 60,000 spectators.The visit of the Argentina football team is a testament to Kerala's growing stature as a sporting destination. The state has hosted several major sporting events in recent years, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.The match is also expected to have a positive impact on the state's tourism industry. It will attract a large number of visitors, who will have the opportunity to experience Kerala's rich culture and natural beauty.

Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Vinicius Júnior endured frustrating nights in South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Messi's Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat at Paraguay, while Vinicius Júnior missed a second-half penalty as Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw at Venezuela.Argentina remains atop the 10-team round-robin competition with 22 points from 11 matches, while Brazil is provisionally in third place with 17 points. Ecuador also played on Thursday, beating Bolivia 4-0 to stay in fifth place with 16 points.In Asuncion, Paraguay, Messi had few opportunities to touch the ball in the first half. However, Argentina took the lead in the 11th minute through Lautaro Martínez's crossed shot. Paraguay equalized with a bicycle kick by Antonio Sanabria in the 19th minute, and Omar Alderete scored the winner with a header in the 47th minute.Messi was visibly frustrated with the officiating, particularly after Alderete was not sent off for his aggressive tackles. "We came to a hard place where the national team always struggled," said Martínez. "We have to correct a lot of things we did wrong in this match, but generally speaking we are playing well. We are still in the lead, and we have to look forward."In Maturin, Venezuela, Vinicius Júnior is still without a goal in six matches of World Cup qualifying. He had the chance to score a potential winner after earning a penalty in the 67th minute, but his low spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Rafael Romo.Brazil had the best chances in the first half, with Vinicius hitting the post once after dribbling past three Venezuelans. Raphinha opened the scoring from a free kick in the 43rd minute, but Venezuela equalized through Telasco Segovia in the 46th minute.Venezuela was reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute after Alexander Gonzalez was sent off for hitting both Gabriel Martinelli and Vinicius Júnior in the face. The irrigation system then came on two minutes before the final whistle at the Monumental Stadium, angering Brazil players."When we don't win I leave the pitch a bit disappointed, we deserved to win this one," said Raphinha. "But it is an important point playing away, we are working hard to win the next one at home."

Deportivo Riestra, an Argentinian football club, has sparked outrage within the country's football community after fielding an influencer with no professional experience in its starting lineup for a top-flight match. The move has been widely condemned as disrespectful to the sport and its players.The influencer, known as "Spreen," is a popular streamer with millions of followers on social media. He was selected for Riestra's match against Primera Division leaders Velez Sarsfield on Monday, but was substituted off after just 78 seconds without touching the ball.Riestra's decision to field Spreen has been met with widespread criticism from football figures in Argentina. Juan Sebastian Veron, the former Manchester United and Argentina midfielder and current president of Estudiantes de La Plata, condemned the move as a "total lack of respect for football and footballers."Velez striker Braian Romero also spoke out against the decision, saying it showed a "lack of respect towards football" and sent a "bad message to society, to children, to those who try until the end" to break into the sport.Riestra captain Milton Celiz defended the decision, saying that Spreen was a friend of the club and that he should be allowed to enjoy the experience. However, he also acknowledged the criticism, saying that it was "not our responsibility (as players), it's a matter for the owners (of the club)."Riestra released a statement saying that it had informed Velez of its intention to field Spreen a week before the match. The club also stated that its objective was to attract new audiences to football and build bridges between different worlds.The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) has asked its ethics committee to investigate the incident, citing "possible conduct that could damage Argentinian football's reputation for integrity."

Lionel Messi returned to the Argentina national team with a bang, scoring a hat-trick and providing two assists in a 6-0 home win over Bolivia in a South American World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.The superstar, who missed the two rounds of the competition in October due to a right ankle injury, played from start to finish on Tuesday in front of raucous fans at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium, who chanted his name after he opened the scoring in the 19th minute.Messi's first goal came after a mistake by a Bolivian defender, who missed a pass and allowed the 37-year-old Messi to run freely and finish unchallenged in front of goalkeeper Billy Viscarra.The result kept the World Cup champions as leaders of the round-robin competition with 22 points after 10 matches, three points clear of second-place Colombia, who earlier beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay is in third position with 16 points after a goalless draw with Ecuador.Messi's second goal came in the 42nd minute, assisted by Lautaro Martínez. He then provided a decisive pass once again in added time on a goal by Julián Álvarez.Argentina appeared to slow its pace after the break, but scored again with Thiago Almada in the 69th minute. The striker scored from close range after a low cross by Nahuel Molina.Messi's show had two great finishing touches from the edge of the box, the first in the 84th and the second in the 86th minute."We enjoyed this, we are happy to be here playing in Argentina," said Messi, who once again refused to say whether he will play in the next World Cup in 2026. "This could be one of the last (matches in front of the Argentinian crowd)."Bolivia, which is seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 30 years, remains in contention with 12 points.Chile's loss to Colombia has placed the job of coach Ricardo Gareca at risk. Davinson Sánchez, Luis Díaz, Jhon Durán, and Luis Sinistierra scored the goals for Colombia. Chile is in last place in the qualifying group with only five points.Paraguay beat Venezuela 2-1 and moved into a qualifying position in the standings. Jon Aramburo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute, but striker Antonio Sarabia came from the bench to win it for the hosts with goals in the 59th and 74th minutes.Two more rounds of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in November.

Argentina's World Cup qualifying campaign hit a roadblock as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela, despite Lionel Messi's return. Messi's free-kick set up Nicolas Otamendi's early opener, but Salomon Rondon's header equalized for Venezuela. Argentina remain atop the standings, but the draw dents their hopes of a comfortable qualification.Meanwhile, Brazil got their campaign back on track with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Chile. Eduardo Vargas gave Chile an early lead, but Savinho and Igor Jesus equalized for Brazil. Luiz Henrique's late strike secured the win, moving Brazil into fourth place.Bolivia boosted their World Cup hopes with a gutsy 1-0 win over Colombia in the thin air of El Alto. Miguel Terceros' stunning individual goal lifted Bolivia into the automatic qualification positions. Bolivia's move to play qualifiers in El Alto has paid off, with two wins in two games at the high-altitude venue.Ecuador and Paraguay played out a goalless draw in Quito, leaving Ecuador in fifth place. The top six finishers in South America's 10-team round-robin qualifying competition will earn a ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Colombia exacted revenge for their Copa America final defeat by edging out Argentina 2-1 in a thrilling South American qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. The victory propelled Colombia to second place in the standings, just two points behind leaders Argentina.Colombia's triumph was orchestrated by captain James Rodriguez, who coolly converted a 60th-minute penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after Nicolas Otamendi's reckless challenge on Daniel Munoz. Rodriguez's goal proved decisive, as Argentina's penalty specialist Emiliano Martinez was unable to stop it.The match began brightly for Colombia, who took the lead in the 25th minute through Yerson Mosquera's header. However, Argentina responded swiftly after the break, with Nicolas Gonzalez equalizing in the 48th minute.Despite the setback, Colombia remained resolute and regained the lead through Rodriguez's penalty. The victory was a sweet moment for Colombia, who had been defeated by Argentina in the Copa America final just two months prior.Meanwhile, Brazil's qualifying campaign hit a snag as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Asuncion. Diego Gomez's long-range strike in the 20th minute proved to be the difference, leaving Brazil in fifth place in the standings.Elsewhere, Chile's hopes of qualifying took a further blow as they lost 2-1 at home to Bolivia. Carmelo Algaranaz and Miguel Terceros scored for Bolivia, while Chile's only goal came from Alexis Sanchez. The defeat leaves Chile languishing in ninth place, with their chances of reaching the World Cup dwindling.In other matches, Ecuador boosted their qualification hopes with a 1-0 win over Peru in Quito, while Uruguay and Venezuela played out a goalless draw.

Lionel Messi to Miss Argentina's World Cup Qualifiers Due to InjuryArgentina's hopes of securing a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a blow with the news that star forward Lionel Messi will miss the team's next two qualifying matches due to injury.Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced his 28-man squad on Monday for the matches against Chile on September 5 and Colombia five days later. Messi, who is still recovering from a right ankle injury, was not included in the squad.The 36-year-old Messi has been a key figure for Argentina in recent years, leading the team to victory in the 2021 Copa America. His absence from the squad will be a significant loss for Scaloni's side.In addition to Messi, Ángel Di María, who retired from the national team after winning the Copa America, is also not on the list.Despite the absence of Messi and Di María, Argentina remains the favorite to qualify for the World Cup. The team currently leads South American qualifying with 15 points after six matches.Argentina Squad:Goalkeepers: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Valentín Barco (Brighton)Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodríguez (West Ham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Ezequiel Fernández (Al Qadisiya), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Nico González (Fiorentina)Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matías Soulé (Roma), Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez both (Atletico Madrid), Valentín Carboni (Olympique Marseille), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) and Valentín Castellanos (Lazio)

The upcoming quarter-final clash between France and Argentina in the men's Olympic football tournament promises to be a fiery encounter, fueled by recent tensions between the two nations. The last-eight showdown will be the first meeting since Argentina players were recorded singing racist chants about their French counterparts after winning the Copa America. FIFA is investigating the incident, which has sparked diplomatic tensions.The match will also be the first between the sides since the epic 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won on penalties. However, the Olympic tournament is an under-23 competition, with only two members of Argentina's squad (Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez) having played in the World Cup final.Despite the absence of some key players, the match is expected to be a fascinating contest. Argentina, chasing a third Olympic gold, will be led by Manchester City's Alvarez, while France, aiming for gold on home soil, will be captained by Alexandre Lacazette and feature Bayern Munich's Michael Olise.Both teams boast legendary coaches: France's Thierry Henry, a 1998 World Cup winner, and Argentina's Javier Mascherano, an Olympic gold medalist as a player. The winner will face either Egypt or Paraguay in the semi-finals.The quarter-finals will also feature Morocco vs. the United States in Paris and Spain vs. Japan in Lyon. Spain, fresh from winning Euro 2024, will be aiming for their second Olympic gold after 1992. Japan, despite fielding a young squad, has impressed by winning all three group games.