'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A tense encounter between Argentina and Brazil ended with honors even as the sides played out a 0-0 draw in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Selecao having already booked their place at the Qatar showpiece. The reigning Copa America champions also joined them, as results in other games went their way.
The traditional rivals fought out a very rough and physical game, with Cristian Romero also going off with an injury. Although both teams created some good chances, the scorers were left undisturbed.
Without Neymar, Selecao had their task cut out, while Lionel Messi saw a testing effort from the edge of the box saved in the dying moments by Alisson.
Neither team would be too happy with their performance, but at least they remain unbeaten in the campaign with only four more games left to play. Here are the major talking points from the match:
#5 Another nasty South American encounter
It's no secret that football in South America is nasty, both on the club and country front. Today's match further reaffirmed the well-established theory.
Despite having a star-studded San Juan pitch, the quality of football overall was poor, thanks to reckless challenges from both sides. In total, there were 41 fouls in the game, but only seven yellow cards were shown.
Perhaps, the intense rivalry between two of South America's most successful teams fueled the fire, but this isn't a one-off. The qualifying games on the continent are indeed becoming increasingly physical and belligerent.
#4 Should Otamendi have been sent off for elbowing Raphinha?
Speaking of fouls, how about Nicolas Otamendi's brash elbow on Raphinha? The Argentine centre-back smacked him in the mouth which left the Brazil player bleeding profusely.
On any other day, that was a straight red, but the referee in the match didn't even bother showing Otamendi a yellow for it! The visitors were also denied a free-kick.
In a game full of reckless challenges and blatant roughhousing, a match official should be penalizing the players for that. Because letting them scot-free sends the wrong signal.
It only encourages the players to become more aggressive.
#3 Vinicius steals the show with a rainbow but is wasteful with chances
Arguably the most eye-catching moment from the game came from Vinicius Junior, who pulled an incredible rainbow late on while trying to dribble past Nahuel Molina.
It was a sublime piece of skill from the Real Madrid ace, who rolled back the calendar to the 'Joga Bonito' days of yore. But it didn't eclipse his wastefulness in front of goal, having missed two epic chances in an otherwise dull game.
He first dragged his chip wide off the post despite only having the goalkeeper to beat. In the second half, the Brazilian winger took a touch too many after collecting a nice offload from Danilo.
Given the form he's produced on the club front this season, you'd expect him to put them away. But Vinicius somehow failed to replicate the cutting edge he's displayed with Real Madrid.
#2 Argentina qualify despite draw, thanks to Chile and Uruguay defeats
Argentina needed a victory in this match to confirm their place at the 2022 World Cup. However, despite the draw, they're officially through, courtesy of Uruguay and Chile defeats.
Uruguay were stunned 3-0 by Bolivia earlier in the day, their fourth consecutive loss in the qualifying campaign, which left them on 16 points in 14 games. Chile then followed suit with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Ecuador.
That left them 13 points behind Albiceleste with only four games remaining in the round. It helped the latter qualify automatically and saved them another two-month wait.
#1 Brazil are not the same without Neymar
Neymar was conspicuous by his absence from the match as he was ruled out with an injury that saw him return to Paris even before kick-off.
Brazil thereby had their task cut out even before entering the match, and despite creating a few good chances, just didn't look like the same outfit.
Argentina had them on the ropes in the first half, their high press restricting Selecao's build-up from the back and forcing them into several back-passes.
Although their performance improved after the break, their flair was still lacking as they failed to conjure a sustained period of attacking presence.
Brazil managed only two shots on target in the match, their lowest in the entire qualifying campaign so far. It's no co-incidence that it happened when Neymar wasn't on the field.
