Argentina vs Colombia
World Cup 2022 qualifying for South American’s finest is well and truly reaching a climax.
Brazil and Argentina have already reached Qatar which leaves the other nations vying for the three remaining spots (two automatically, one via a play-off).
The standings see Ecuador with some wriggle room in third and Peru in the fourth and final automatic berth but there’s not much in it.
And with Uruguay, Colombia, Chile and Bolivia hot on their heels and still possessing hopes of reaching Qatar, we could be set for some World Cup qualifying highlights.
Talking Points
With Argentina already qualified and missing their talisman Lionel Messi, perhaps it is a good time for Los Cafeteros to be playing the Copa America holders.
Not that they showed any signs of easing up as they damaged Chile’s qualification hopes last week (their 28th unbeaten game in a row across all competitions) when goals from Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez defeated one of their fiercest rivals.
On the same day, Colombia made life very difficult for themselves as they went down to a late home defeat to Peru on Friday night.
In a result which cost them the opportunity to climb back up to fourth, second-half substitute Edison Flores secured a smash and grab 1-0 victory away as goalkeeper David Ospina’s gaffe cost goal-shy Colombia.
Peru barely had a shot on goal all match but, five minutes from time, Ospina let Flores’s fierce effort from a tight angle beat him at his near post as Peru snatched an unlikely victory on the counter-attack.
Yes, Colombia had dominated throughout but failed to score for the sixth successive match – a run of more than 550 minutes.
After such a lack of clinical finishing for five matches in a row, how they now need to find their shooting boots or their World Cup hopes will be over.
To labour the point, against Peru, only 28 of Colombia’s shots were on target.
Four Argentine clean sheets from their last four qualifiers at home may well spell further frustration for Colombia who will be without the suspended Yerry Mina, but Argentina’s ranks will be even more depleted through four suspensions of their own.
All four – Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo de Paul and Leandro Paredes- are out of contention after being cautioned against Chile.
There remains much to play for in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, now more than ever.
History
Since Argentina thrashed Colombia in their first-ever meeting in the 1945 Copa America, it has been largely domination for the two-times world champions.
They have 24 victories to nine Colombia successes and eight draws.
On saying that, they have one win apiece and two draws in their most recent four meetings, including in last summer’s Copa semi-final when the teams drew 1-1 before Argentina prevailed on spot-kicks en route to winning the competition.
In that game, Martinez put them ahead before an equaliser from Luis Diaz forced extra-time and the subsequent penalty shoot-out
A month earlier they had met in World Cup qualifying in Barranquilla when the Argentines raced into a 2-0 lead inside eight minutes through Cristian Romero and Leandro Paredes before a Luis Muriel penalty reduced the arrears and the Colombians levelled in the final minute through Miguel Borja.
In the 2019 Copa, Colombia – then managed by Carlos Quieroz – won 2-0 in a group game, courtesy of goals from Roger Martinez and Duvan Zapata.
You have to go back to 1993 and a famous Colombian victory to the last time they won on Argentine soil.
On that occasion, a side containing the likes of Diego Simeone and Gabriel Batistuta were humbled on home turf as Faustino Asprilla grabbed a hattrick and inspired a 5-0 romp in Buenos Aires.
Betting Tip
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 | Argentina vs Colombia | 1X2 Draw @ 3.30 |
| February 2, 07:30 (GMT+8) |
The SBOTOP World Cup qualifying betting odds back the already qualified hosts.
That includes appealing odds such as First Half 1X2 @ 2.70, 1X2 @ 1.94, First Half Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.17 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.21.
Colombia have their own attractive odds too, including First Half 1X2 @ 4.40, 1X2 @ 3.80, Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 1.97.
As with so many matches, Total Goal 2-3 is pretty standard which is reflected in the odds @ 1.83.
Yet look at Total Goal 0-1 @ 2.34 and 4-6 @ 4.90 to broaden your horizons or Over 2.25 goals @ 2.17.
And if you want a re-run of the last meeting (obviously there won’t be a penalty shoot-out in this one), then Correct Score 1-1 is available @ 5.80.
I can actually see it being honours even in this one.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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