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Argentina, the reigning FIFA World Cup champions, will face Chile at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires this Thursday as part of their journey to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. La Albiceleste, who currently top the CONMEBOL standings with an almost perfect record, are strong favorites against a Chilean side that has struggled, with just one victory in their first six matches of the qualification process.
After six rounds of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, Argentina has earned 15 points out of a possible 18, positioning them at the top of the South American rankings. Their sole defeat came in a 2-0 loss against Uruguay, which they swiftly put behind them with an impressive 1-0 away win over Brazil in November. Lionel Scaloni’s side will now aim to continue their dominant form as they play in front of their home fans for the first time since clinching their 16th Copa America title in July. With their recent success, Argentina has cemented its place among the world's elite, and a victory against Chile would not only help them maintain their lead in the qualifiers but also reinforce their standing as the top-ranked team by FIFA.
Meanwhile, Chile has had a rough start to the qualifiers, recording one win, two draws, and three losses in their opening matches. Their hopes of making a return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 are looking increasingly slim, as they currently sit in ninth place, just two points shy of the qualification spots. Their only win came with a 2-0 victory over Peru in the third round, but their subsequent three matches have yielded only one point. A 1-0 defeat to Ecuador in November marked the end of Eduardo Berizzo's time as head coach, and Argentine Ricardo Gareca took over the managerial reins shortly after. Gareca's initial tenure has been mixed, with two wins, two draws, and two losses in his first six matches in charge.
The challenge for Gareca and his squad is formidable, especially considering Chile's historical struggles against Argentina. In their last 13 meetings across various competitions, Chile has managed only one victory, a narrow 1-0 win during the 2008 World Cup qualifiers. Argentina, on the other hand, has dominated the fixture, most recently securing a 1-0 victory over Chile in the group stage of the Copa America earlier this year. With a depleted squad missing several key players, the odds are firmly stacked against Chile, and their task of reversing history seems difficult.
For Argentina, the absence of their star player, Lionel Messi, due to an ankle injury sustained in the Copa America final against Colombia, is a significant setback. However, Scaloni has a deep and talented squad capable of filling Messi’s shoes. Alongside Messi, veteran players like Angel Di Maria and goalkeeper Franco Armani have retired from international duty, while defenders Nicolas Tagliafico and Leonardo Balerdi are out due to injuries. The absence of Tagliafico leaves a gap at left-back, likely to be filled by 21-year-old Valentin Barco, who is currently on loan at Sevilla from Brighton & Hove Albion. Despite his relative inexperience, Barco has shown promise and will be eager to make an impression on the international stage.
Without Messi, Scaloni has several attacking options to choose from. Paulo Dybala, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Alejandro Garnacho are all candidates to take up the vacant spot in the attack. Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez, who won the Copa America Golden Boot, and Julian Alvarez are expected to lead Argentina’s offense. Martinez has been in excellent form, and his partnership with Alvarez could spell trouble for Chile’s defense, which will have its hands full containing the duo.
On the Chilean side, their situation is complicated by several notable absences. Veteran goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has retired from international football, leaving Gareca with a difficult decision about who will take over the gloves. Swansea City’s Lawrence Vigouroux, who was born in London, is the only uncapped player in the squad and will be competing with Gabriel Arias and Brayan Cortes for the starting role. Additionally, star players Alexis Sanchez and Diego Valdes are both sidelined with injuries, while Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel, and Francisco Sierralta were all omitted from the squad, leaving Chile without much of their core group of experienced players.
Despite these challenges, Gareca will be hoping for a resilient performance from his squad, perhaps eyeing an unlikely upset. Eduardo Vargas, one of Chile’s most influential players in recent years, will likely partner with Ben Brereton Diaz in attack. Brereton Diaz, who was born in England and currently plays for Villarreal in La Liga, has impressed since joining the Chilean national team in 2021 and will be eager to add to his goal tally. Erick Pulgar, expected to take charge of Chile’s midfield, will play a crucial role in trying to control the game’s tempo and create opportunities for the forwards, with support from Marcelino Nunez and Rodrigo Echeverria.
To stand any chance against Argentina, Chile must be defensively solid and capitalize on any chances they can create. Argentina’s attack, even without Messi, is still filled with quality, and the combination of Alvarez, Martinez, and Gonzalez will test Chile’s backline. Chile’s defense, likely led by Igor Lichnovsky and Guillermo Maripan, will need to be at their absolute best to withstand Argentina’s offensive firepower.
In the midfield, Chile will need to monitor Argentina’s playmakers closely, especially Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernandez. De Paul has been a vital part of Argentina’s success in recent years, with his ability to control the pace of the game and deliver incisive passes to his teammates. Enzo Fernandez, since his transfer to Chelsea, has emerged as one of Argentina’s rising stars, and he will be looking to carry his fine club form onto the international stage.
Argentina’s expected starting XI will likely feature Emiliano Martinez in goal, with a defense comprising Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, and Barco. In midfield, De Paul, Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister are anticipated to start, while the attacking trio of Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez, and Julian Alvarez will look to lead the line.
For Chile, their probable starting lineup includes Gabriel Arias in goal, with a back four consisting of Mauricio Isla, Lichnovsky, Maripan, and Eugenio Mena. In midfield, Pulgar will likely be partnered by Nunez and Echeverria, while Osorio, Vargas, and Brereton Diaz will be tasked with breaking down Argentina’s defense and finding the back of the net.
Looking at the form and quality of both teams, it is clear that Argentina is the overwhelming favorite to win this match. Even without Messi, Argentina boasts a wealth of talent and depth that should see them overcome a Chilean team that has struggled for consistency in the qualifiers. Playing in front of their home fans, La Albiceleste will be eager to put on a dominant display and continue their impressive run at the top of the South American standings.
For Chile, this match serves as an opportunity to gauge their progress under Gareca and identify the areas they need to improve as they continue their push for World Cup qualification. While an upset is unlikely, a strong performance against the world champions could provide Chile with a much-needed morale boost heading into the remaining qualifiers.
In summary, Argentina is expected to secure a comfortable victory in this encounter, with their superior squad and home advantage proving too much for a weakened Chilean side. With players like Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez in top form, Argentina should have no trouble extending their lead in the South American qualifiers, while Chile faces an uphill battle to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
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