CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Brazil, Argentina out to maintain winning run in November
Neymar Jr will miss Brazil’s Venezuela tie but may face Uruguay, featuring Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Messi, meanwhile, will lead Argentina in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
South American footballing giants Argentina and Brazil will continue their bid to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar over the ongoing international break.
The CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup Qualifiers began last month with all teams involved playing two matches each in the October window. Both Argentina and Brazil began their campaign with back-to-back wins.
Brazil, in particular, looked to be in impressive form as they dispatched Bolivia 5-0 in the opener and then beat Peru 4-2.
In this international window, the Selecao face Venezuela in Sao Paulo in matchweek 3 followed by a crunch tie against the ever-dangerous Uruguay in Montevideo in matchweek 4.
Brazil may have to do without star player Neymar Jr. in the upcoming fixtures owing to a thigh injury. The PSG player is almost certain to miss the Venezuela tie but may return against Uruguay if deemed fit. He will be travelling with the squad.
Brazil will be also without Liverpool midfielder Fabinho and Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho, both of whom are nursing hamstring injuries.
The five-time World Cup winners, however, are set to welcome back goalkeeper Allison Becker and striker Gabriel Jesus, both of whom missed the October ties.
While Venezuela look like a relatively easy fixture on paper, Dunga's men can expect a stiff challenge from Uruguay, featuring the likes of Luis Suarez and the returning Edinson Cavani.
Uruguay face Colombia in matchweek 3 before turning their attention to Brazil.
Lionel Messi's Argentina, meanwhile, will go into their matches against Paraguay and Peru with a key absentee of their own after Juventus star Paulo Dybala opted to pull out of the squad over an injury.
However, in Messi, Angel di Maria and Lautaro Martinez, they still have enough firepower in the squad to see them through.
2022 CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers matchweek 3 fixtures and India start times
All times are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
Friday, November 13
Bolivia vs Ecuador – 1:30 AM IST
Argentina vs Paraguay – 5:30 AM IST
Saturday, November 13
Colombia vs Uruguay – 2:00 AM IST
Chile vs Peru – 4:30 AM IST
Brazil vs Venezuela – 6:00 AM IST
2022 CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers matchweek 4 schedule and start times for India
Wednesday, November 18
Ecuador vs Colombia – 2:30 AM IST
Venezuela vs Chile – 2:30 AM IST
Paraguay vs Bolivia – 4:30 AM IST
Uruguay vs Brazil – 4:30 AM IST
Peru vs Argentina – 6:00 AM IST
*There is no information on broadcast or live streaming for India so far.