South American World Cup Qualifiers Wrap Up

After Two Years of Fixtures the Conmebol League is Complete

Oct 15, 2009

Four South American nations are guaranteed their places in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa while fifth placed Uruguay require a playoff versus Costa Rica.

For some it has been an unpleasant white knuckle ride teetering close to collapse, to others an indifferent campaign of averages and to many a veritable cornucopia of footballing excesses. This Conmebol qualifying league has thrown up some interesting points for debate, some new players, some rejuvenated players, discarded coaches left and right and disappointed the fans of the five unsuccessful nations. For Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador this race came right down to the last fixture on October 14.

October 14 2009, Black Wednesday for Ecuador?

For Ecuador this is the case. South America’s new footballing nation with two consecutive World Cup finals under its belt will be sadly missed from the events in South Africa. But the figures tell it all, Ecuador conceded 12 goals in their first four games including two games where they shipped 5 goals. They were slow to start and really did not win when it mattered most. Venezuela did the double over Ecuador and when they desperately needed a home win against Uruguay in their penultimate game they were downed at the last by a Forlan penalty.

Maradona Lives to Fight Another Day

Arguably irreparably damaging any memories of his prowess and genius as a player, Argentina coach Diego Maradona somehow guided the albiceleste to the World Cup. The Argentine outfit came desperately close to not qualifying, a feat not accomplished since 1970, and the rookie coach made some particularly baffling tactical decisions during his tenure. His outburst to the press after the match in Uruguay (winning 1-0 for the first time in Montevideo since 1976 and sending Uruguay into a playoff against Costa Rica) has been broadcast across the globe. One cannot help but feel that the World Cup in South Africa would be less exciting without the effervescent character of Maradona but that if the Argentina team are going to get anywhere it will be done with the tactical nous and knowledge of the squad, not the coach.

Brazil, Chile and Paraguay

Brazil’s campaign fizzed out once they had qualified back in September. Losing in the altitude of Bolivia in their penultimate game will not have upset any fan of the team and a lacklustre no score draw with Venezuela at home told us all that we needed to know, the Boys from Brazil are through and their thoughts are elsewhere. Statisticians will be telling us next that Brazil have never won a world cup as favourites, an interesting theme to mull over.

Chile has arguably been this qualification tournament’s most improved and most impressive team led by the irrepressible and impressive coach Marcelo Bielsa. Qualifying for the first time since France 1998, the likes of Suazo, Valdivia and Gonzalez will be champing at the bit to strut their stuff on the world stage. They will be a tough match for anyone as they have shown, scoring 32 goals in qualifying, only one less than Brazil.

Paraguay was the run away leader of the Conmebol league way back in September 2008 after 8 games. They then lost their course a little bit before pulling off some key wins where it counted. Really, it is an incredible feat for a poor nation of 6,5 million to almost always be a force to be reckoned with on the world stage and to have accomplished qualification once again without the help of talismanic natural born striker Roque Santa Cruz.

Those Who Failed to Qualify

The Conmebol World Cup Qualifying League as it Ended

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