Real Madrid: A tear in the collateral ligament in Camavinga’s knee

Uruguay put an end to a series of 14 matches without losing its host, Argentina, the world champion, and defeated it 2-0 (Thursday) in the fifth round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in football, while Colombian Luis Diaz scored two lightning goals under the watchful eye of his father, who was released from prison. Kidnapping, they inflicted the second loss in a row on Brazil.

At the Bombonera Stadium in the capital, Buenos Aires, Argentina trailed to Barcelona’s Spanish defender Ronald Araujo’s first international goal, with a low shot from inside the area in the 41st minute, scoring goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for the first time since Frenchman Kylian Mbappe’s goal in the World Cup final (3-3, then a victory). Argentina on penalties).

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunes won the three points from a counterattack, after a ball missed by the eight-time best player in the world, Lionel Messi, in the 87th minute.

This is the first loss for Argentina, the world champion at the end of last year, since losing to Saudi Arabia 1-2 in the opening of its matches in Qatar. It was also Argentina’s first loss in 25 World Cup qualifiers.

This is the first time in 103 years that Uruguay has won on Argentine soil by more than one goal, since 1920 when it won 3-1 in Buenos Aires.

Despite its loss after 4 opening victories, Argentina leads the unified group standings with 12 points, compared to 10 for Uruguay, while Brazil fell to fifth place with seven points. The top 6 teams qualify directly to the World Cup finals, while the seventh team goes into a continental playoff.

“We never felt comfortable,” Messi said after the loss.

The player, who was recently crowned with his eighth Ballon d’Or, added: “I prefer not to say what I’m thinking.” But the young people must learn from the veterans to respect this derby. They should learn a little from what happened.”

Messi, whose friend Luis Soares remained on the bench with Uruguay, continued: “Their team is physically strong. He works hard, and they pose a threat in counterattacks,” he said, praising the work of Uruguay’s coach, the inimitable Argentine Marcelo Bielsa.

The 36-year-old American Inter Miami player, who hit the crossbar from a free kick, added: “You can see his touch in the team. In all the clubs and national teams that he supervised, including Argentina, you see his touch.”

For his part, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni expressed his support for his players before the expected match with Brazil next Tuesday: “There is a very difficult match awaiting us, and we will try to give our best. “I think this team has shown many times its ability to rise.”

The coach, who led Argentina to its third world title after 1978 and 1986, and tried to revitalize his attack in the second half by bringing in Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria, continued, “We lose and we win as a team, and there are times when you must praise the opponent.”

He added: “It cannot be said that we do not lose because we are world champions. We are vulnerable to loss. I said it before, and I will continue to say it.”

In Barranquilla, under the watchful eye of his father, who was released from kidnapping last week after a 12-day ordeal at the hands of factions of the National Liberation Army, Luis Diaz overturned Colombia’s deficit against five-time world champion Brazil, giving it a 2-1 victory in the last quarter of an hour.

Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring for Brazil early with a low ball inside the area in the 4th minute, but Diaz scored two goals with his head within 5 minutes, in the 75th and 79th minutes, turning the tables on the visitors, who had scored only a point in the last 3 matches.

This is Colombia’s first victory over Brazil in World Cup qualifiers after 15 matches, while Brazil lost two matches in a row in World Cup qualifiers for the first time in its history.

As the thousands of fans gathered in the stadium went crazy, tears fell for Luis Manuel, Diaz’s father, who was present in the stands with his mother.

Diaz said that he experienced “difficult moments” after his father was kidnapped at the end of last October, “but life gives you strength and courage, and not just football, but life.”

The Liverpool player, whose country rose to third place in the overall standings and is the only one that has not been ridiculed so far, continued: “I am grateful to my teammates and the technical staff who stood by me at every moment. “I dedicate this victory to the people who deserve it.”

On the other hand, his Liverpool teammate, Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, said: “He is a friend. He has suffered a lot these days. This goes beyond football. “It was worth it (scoring the two goals).”

What made matters worse for Brazil was that its star attack, Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior, was injured in his left thigh in the 27th minute, noting that the Seleção team was missing its other striker, Neymar, the Saudi Al Hilal player, due to a long-term injury to his knee.

Venezuela, fourth in the standings, tied with its host Ecuador without goals, while Bolivia scored its first points after 4 losses in these qualifiers and eight in a row in total, leaving the bottom of the standings by defeating its guest Peru 2-0.

Peru became the first team in the history of the South American qualifiers to fail to score in its first five matches.

After a rough match that ended in a scoreless draw and the expulsion of a player from each team in Santiago, Chile and Paraguay remained outside the top teams.

Due to Chile’s disappointing eighth place, its coach Eduardo Berizzo submitted his resignation from his position.