World Cup - Argentina scrape into World Cup

Eurosport - Thu, 15 Oct 01:15:00 2009

Diego Maradona's Argentina qualified for the World Cup in South Africa after a 1-0 win in Uruguay gave them the final automatic qualifying place from South America.

FOOTBALL World Cup qualifying Uruguay Argentina Maradona - 0

In a scrappy game in Montevideo, substitute Mario Bolatti finished from close range with six minutes remaining after Juan Sebastian Veron's shot ricocheted around the penalty area.

Uruguay still made the play-offs, finishing fifth in the CONMEBOL qualifying section after Ecuador were beaten 1-0 in Chile.

Barely any meaningful chances were created in a poor first half memorable more for crude challenges and woeful passing than good football.

Uruguay started the brighter, attempting to attack a frightened-looking Argentina for whom only Angel Di Maria showed any forward thinking.

Maradona's team selection was unusual at best, with Carlos Tevez a substitute and Sergio Aguero, Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel and Maxi Rodriguez not even on the bench.

Furthermore, with inexperienced centre-half Nicolas Otamendi playing full-back and 22-year-old AZ keeper Sergio Romero getting only his third senior cap, there was little in the way of stability for the visiting defence, which has lined up differently for every qualifier this term.

Ajax forward Luis Suarez almost helped the hosts to an early lead when, on three minutes, a positive run found him free on the left, but his cut-back was hacked away from Diego Forlan.

Less than a minute later Uruguay had another half-chance when midfielder Jorge Rodriguez raced clear but Romero rushed out to block and was lucky to see his clearance rebound off the midfielder and go wide.

From thereon until the break the half was as forgettable as the match important.

Uruguay had more of the ball but their final delivery was shocking, while star man Forlan barely got a sniff until an injury-time drive that flew wide.

Argentina were worse, Lionel Messi conspicuous in his anonymity with his team-mates favouring long balls and only looking threatening from deep set pieces.

Di Maria showed flashes of intent though, running clear on two occasions.

On the first he was on a different wavelength to Messi, who pulled wide while he passed forward and into Fernando Muslera's arms, while the second time he was crudely chopped down by Maxi Pereira, who had already been booked and who was fortunate to escape as the referee mistakenly pointed for a goal kick.

The second half was barely an improvement, although Humberto Suarez's goal for Chile kicked both sides into action as the fear of missing out on the top six dissipated.

Both sides huffed and puffed though, with Uruguay's influence fading while Argentina grew into the match as it progressed.

Uruguay had one excellent chance when Diego Lugano misdirected a free-header after a superb free-kick from Forlan.

The tackles had been flying in all game and it was only a matter of time before someone saw red, with Martin Caceres - otherwise impressive - shown a second yellow on 83 minutes when he inexplicably hauled down Jonas Guiterrez after slipping.

The subsequent free-kick was taken short by Messi to Veron hanging on the edge of the box.

His shot was harmless enough but, with Uruguay unable to clear their lines, Bolatti - who had just come on - drilled the loose ball home to send the Argentine bench into delirium.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 18 - 37 of 37

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Diego Forlan once again failed in an important match

    From Roy, on Thu 15 Oct 1:59PM

  2. Ustari - J.Zanetti, Demichelis, G.Milito?, Insua - ­ Mascherano, Banega,Lucho, Maxi R.- Messi, Agüero. ­ subs. Romero, Andujar, Otamendi, Heinze, Samuel,­ Burdisso, Cambiasso?, Jonas G., M.Moralez, Diaz,­ Bounanotte, Di Maria,Tevez, D.Milito, Palermo, De­ Federico, Salvio, Higuain?

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 15 Oct 1:42PM

  3. SPAIN-ARGENTINA WC FINAL ....MARK MY WORDS!

    From streli6te, on Thu 15 Oct 1:24PM

  4. I think, one of these national team's gonna win the­ WC: Spain, Argentina, Brazil or maybe England!­ Argentina will be in the semi-finals at least! But just­ with Messi! without him, no chance for a big­ achievement!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 15 Oct 12:38PM

  5. Maradona will make it even at the world cup, this­ qualification was a step forward for a better challenge­ that lies ahead. they have realize that alot still­ needs to be done in the team so now he will set up­ strategies to meet up with the new challanges come­ south africa 2010

    From ikoe, on Thu 15 Oct 12:14PM

  6. Argentina aint going nowhere in the world cup.. unless­ their coach maradona
    employs another HAND OF GOD... the­ cheating short twit.. hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Thu 15 Oct 11:38AM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WATCH ALL MATCHES ON INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, ­ CHAMPIONSHIP, CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA,­ LIGUE 1, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, EUROPA LEAGUE,­ QUALIFICATION WORLD CUP 2010, BRASILERAO, EREDIVISIE­ AND MUCH MORE

    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Thu 15 Oct 11:25AM

  8. I stayed till 2.00 am to watch this game and then at 7­ i need it to go to school lol im crazy i had just 3­ hours of sleeping:S

    From egzon_brajshori, on Thu 15 Oct 11:23AM

  9. Discipline is definitely the word. That's what sets­ Spain and Brazil out from the crowd right now. It's­ so disappointing to see Argentina playing so badly with­ so much talent. Couldn't they have learnt anything­ from 2002? The joke is that all the Argie players­ abroad that actually shine have managers as tough as­ hell. Maradona can't even get up in the morning.

    From jcolman, on Thu 15 Oct 11:16AM

  10. I stayed up late to root for Argentina...such a­ collection of great players shouldn't stay­ home...they should make it to the world cup. Now­ Maradona really has to go!

    From Bright, on Thu 15 Oct 10:55AM

  11. @E: " When Chelsea played Barcelona...Messi was­ nowhere to be found." I thought it was Messi who­ made the pass that resulted in Iniesta's goal .­ BTW; neither Argentina nor England are good enough to­ advance far in the WC !!

    From Tim, on Thu 15 Oct 10:19AM

  12. Clearly Maradona still has the hand of God on his side,­ but it will take more than a miracle to see this­ shambolic 'team' survive the next stage. Even­ good quality players need to be directed and­ disciplined,and only an unthinking idealist could­ believe that Maradona is the man for that . Genius on­ the pitch, yes, but gifted coach Half Brain? Wake up.­ Emotion won't do it! Piety won't do it.

    From Maurice, on Thu 15 Oct 9:21AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Good place for all big and tall singles, please check: ­ Tallconnect Co M ,More fun waiting for you...

    From lucusss23, on Thu 15 Oct 9:13AM

  14. Half a Brain...playing emotionally is all well and­ good, but Argentina got through from sheer luck.­ Maradona needs to play a consistent squad of good­ players instead of constantly switching things up...I­ really doubt he's a genius. Although, he's made­ two very good substitutes in the last two games.­ We'll see...I'm not convinced.

    From E, on Thu 15 Oct 9:11AM

  15. When Chelsea played Barcelona...Messi was nowhere to be­ found.

    Two of Chelsea's defenders play for­ England, I think Ashley Cole and Terry will keep Messi­ quiet...

    From E, on Thu 15 Oct 9:09AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    to all those english who still can't get over that­ hand of god goal,suck s h i t argentina have­ qualified,i hope they play ur over-rated english­ football team,because i reckon messi will make both rio­ and john terry look like 3rd division players.

    From joeblow, on Thu 15 Oct 8:41AM

  17. if Maradon is stil in charge in South Africa, the team­ will be slaughtered.

    From yeovilfan1, on Thu 15 Oct 8:28AM

  18. they wont go far with maradona in charge...snort­ ..snort..snort...

    From theonebehindthewheel, on Thu 15 Oct 8:08AM

  19. I have alot of respect to Maradona as a player . but­ honesly he must quit AFA should take action and bring­ on an experienced coach ,maradona is playing with the­ hell!!! i cant see a team playing on the ground . and­ at the end all the blame on Messi who can can hardly­ get the ball from a midfield doesnt know how to pass­ the ball infront . Bring on Pekerman .if not a non­ argentinian coach is essential .

    From hasan a, on Thu 15 Oct 7:49AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Yup, CHEATS always get the breaks. Let's pray he­ goes home afyer the group stage

    From Wayne G, on Thu 15 Oct 6:48AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account