Brasil y Argentina vuelven a verse las caras después de la final de la Copa América 2021, que significó el primer título internacional de la Albiceleste desde 1993. Esta vez, la excusa son las Eliminatorias a Catar 2022 y el duelo ocurre en un contexto marcado por la negativa de la Premier League de facilitar futbolistas a distintas selecciones, escudándose en una lista roja del gobierno británico ante la Covid-19, la cual discrimina abiertamente a naciones latinas, africanas y asiáticas.

SAO PAULO — Brazilian health officials accused four Argentine footballers of breaking quarantine rules on Saturday and began an investigation that could lead to their exclusion from this weekend's World Cup qualifier between the two sides.

The Argentina squad flew into Brazil on Friday, the day after beating Venezuela 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Caracas.

The squad for Sunday's game at the Corinthians arena contains four players who play in England, Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur duo Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero.

Four years ago, in the midst of his team’s ill-fated quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, USMNT coach Bruce Arena challenged any European nation to try to qualify for the World Cup in Concacaf. Arena compared Concacaf World Cup qualifying to a season of Survivor, I think.

I can’t tell if José Mourinho is trolling Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka, trying to encourage him to do the right thing or both, but the Mourinho Xhaka comment on Instagram has brought something to my attention I did not expect.

Xhaka tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the international break, keeping the midfielder out of his Switzerland’s friendly with Greece on Wednesday and putting his availability for World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Northern Ireland into doubt. 

Proposals to hold the World Cup every two years, being pushed by governing body FIFA, are set to be opposed by UEFA and Europe's leading clubs, sources have told Reuters.

Arsène Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, has been promoting the idea as part of the organization's review of the international match calendar and this week repeated his support for the change from the established four-year cycle.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been released from the national team squad after picking up a one-game suspension following their 2-1 victory over Ireland on Wednesday, the country's football federation said in a statement.

England bounced back from a disheartening loss in the Euro 2020 final with a resounding 4-0 win over Hungary in 2022 World Cup qualifying on Thursday in Budapest. On the pitch, England was superior. Off the pitch, England was superior. After fans hurled projectiles and racist abuse toward England players, the Three Lions’ mockery of Hungary fans was the best moment of the week.

Win at home; draw on the road — that’s long been said to be the formula for success in Concacaf World Cup qualifying. If true, the U.S. is at least on track to book a trip to Qatar, but it wasn’t exactly the barnstorming start to World Cup qualifying many U.S. fans were hoping for after a summer full of trophies.

A Lionel Messi le han pegado todo tipo de patadas durante su carrera, pero quizás pocas tan criminales como la que le aplicó Luis Adrián Martínez, en la visita de Argentina a Venezuela, en las eliminatorias mundialistas de la CONMEBOL.

En un enfrentamiento duro, sin muchos espacios, la Albiceleste trataba de lucir su chapa de campeón de América. Messi era el principal agente ofensivo, pero sin la chispa suficiente como para doblar la resistencia vinotinto.

Patada a Messi

El cambio, curiosamente, vino tras el violento foul que recibió Messi.