Argentina hit new low with 3-0 loss over Brazil

Just when you thought it couldn’t go any more wrong in Argentina’s quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals, it just did. This time they comprehensively lost to the old enemy, Brazil but in losing 3-0 it was the manner of the defeat that has raised even more questions about this talented but lacklustre squad.

True Argentina did have the better opening exchanges in Belo Horizonte, the same stadium that witnessed Brazil’s meltdown when they were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup. But Brazil have moved on since then, though it seems Argentina who were the runners up in that World Cup have taken one step forward and three steps back.

Once Phillpe Coutinho’s stunning strike put the Selecao 1-0 up the visitors seemed to show all of the usual cracks. Suddenly instead of Lionel Messi distributing balls and making quick clever runs his face was full of doubt. Suddenly at 1-0 Argentina knew they had to score two away from home, since  a draw would do nothing for them in this late evening game.

Messi’s ever reliant team mate at Barcelona Neymar put the sword in the chest when he scored Brazil’s second and if the game had not in theory been over after the first goal, it was most certainly now.

Edgardo Bauza the Argentine coach is under serious pressure to keep his job as Argentina are now 6th in the South America standings with only the top four places assured of qualification. Fifth place goes into a play off with an Oceania nation over 2 legs.

Bauza said: “We still have a lot to do before the qualifiers end, we know that classification still depends on what we do. The game against Colombia will be different.” That game takes place on Tuesday and will be huge given that it is the nation’s last game in these groups until next March. Argentina will be at home and will be obliged by a country to get all three points. Added to the pressure is that in March they will face Chile the current Copa America champions who have beaten Argentina back to back in Copa America finals.

Argentina need to find their worth and they need to do it ever so quickly. Against Colombia in the past. The omens may be with Messi and co as Argentina haven’t lost to Colombia at home in 12 years. For now everyone will wait for baited breath and hope to see the mother of performances from what has been a dejected team who has now gone 4 games without a win in any competition.