With a 7 month gap from now until the next round of South American World Cup 2010 qualifying games, we take a look at how the 10 nations have fared so far and what we can expect in mid June 2008.
The Standings after 4 games
1 Paraguay 10 points
2 Argentina 9 points
3 Brazil 8 points
4 Colombia 6 points
5 Venezuela 6 points
6 Uruguay 4 points
7 Chile 4 points
8 Ecuador 3 points
9 Peru 2 points
10 Bolivia 1 point
Stats and Figures
Paraguay
As one can see the traditional powers of Brazil and Argentina are to be found at the upper end of the table, but after 4 games it is the Guarani of Paraguay who are in the driving seat in 1st place. A credible away draw on the opening day versus Peru and then home wins against Uruguay and a 5-1 hammering of Ecuador were followed by an excellent 3-0 win away in Santiago against Chile. The Guarani are hard to play against, stubborn in defence and with the likes of the bullish Salvador Cabanas up front will likely remain in the top three throughout the qualifying process.
Argentina
The albiceleste’s opening form was exactly as one would expect. Comprehensive victories over Chile (2-0), Venezuela (2-0) and Bolivia (3-0) kept Alfio Basile’s men at the top of the table with maximum points and no goals conceded. However in their final match of the four away to Colombia, despite Lionel Messi’s brilliance and individual goal in the first half, Colombia fought back in the second half to take maximum points (2-1) and do both Paraguay and Brazil a favour.
Brazil
The critics are sharpening their knives over Dunga’s apparent suffocation of the traditional Brazilian flair. No one can doubt that despite everything he is a pragmatist and will be taking each game as it comes. However, with a team including Kaka, Ronaldhino and Robinho the boys from Brazil, despite not losing a game, have been dropping points. A lucky opening game draw away in Bogota (0-0) was followed by thrashing of Ecuador (5-0), and then a poor draw away in Lima (1-1) was complimented by a hard fought victory over Uruguay in Sao Paolo (2-1).
Colombia
Jorge Luis Pinto’s team have come in for fierce criticism at home from a demanding public but so far have delivered. They could have and should have taken all three points in waterlogged Bogota versus Brazil on their opening game (0-0). But it was against Brazil and so all was forgiven. Then followed a no score draw in the altitude of Bolivia with the keeper maintaining the Cafeteros hopes alive. Two games, no goals conceded and none scored. The problem is obvious, Colombia lack striking options. They answered their critics with wins over Venezuela (1-0) and a striking defeat of Argentina in Bogota (2-1).
Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile
It has been mixed fortunes for these three teams. Venezuela who have always been the whipping boys of South American football have pulled out of that mass with credible performances in recent years and a decent showing in the Copa America. Two wins and two losses will not dampen Venezuelan spirits especially since one loss was against the rampaging Argentines and their last game was an emphatic victory over Bolivia (5-3). Uruguay edge out Chile in the standings on goal difference and are never a team to write off. Chile is parading the talismanic Marcelo Salas up front and with some precocious young talents are a team to watch. Their 2-2 draw with Uruguay in Montevideo was the first ever point that the team has ever secured on Uruguayan soil in a World Cup qualifier.
Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
Conforming to type Peru and Bolivia have taken their habitual positions propping up the table but the great shock of these past four games is that Ecuador are in their company. With two consecutive World Cup appearances Ecuadorian football was making itself heard in the global stage. Team coach Luis Suarez stepped down after defeats at home against Venezuela (1-0), away at Brazil (5-0) and Paraguay (5-1) and then turned around their campaign on the final day with a comprehensive thrashing of Peru (5-1).
Stats, Figures and Forecasts
This qualifying period has shown a few things. Perhaps more strikingly than in the past a visiting team cannot come into a game thinking that the form book will gift them a win. Just look at Brazil’s draw in Peru and Argentina’s loss in Colombia. On that note, only Venezuela, Argentina and Paraguay have won on the road.
Ecuador has conceded 12 goals in four games including two games where they shipped 5 goals. Only Bolivia has conceded more with 13 and they too have been on the receiving end of 5 goal defeats.
Total Goals scored in all games = 57
No team has maximum points.
We can expect Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay to firm things up and pull away at the top. Realistically at this point Colombia, Uruguay and Chile will be fighting for the 4th spot while Venezuela may not last the distance, Ecuador will make things hard for visiting teams but may have fallen behind too far already and Peru and Bolivia will fight over last place.
