Argentina, Brazil get in action as South America WC qualifiers resume

Following the end of the 2020/21 major European club competitions, international football resumes, including the South American World Cup qualifiers, with Argentina locking horns with Chile on Friday and Brazil welcoming Ecuador on Saturday.

As the World Cup Qualifiers return to South America after seven months, table toppers Brazil and second-placed Argentina may take decisive steps to the upcoming rounds to assure smooth pathways to Qatar. 

Argentina's game against Chile will start at 6:00 am (Bangladesh time) on Friday while Brazil's encounter with Ecuador is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 am (Bangladesh time) on Saturday.

A 1-1 draw with Paraguay has been the only dent in La Albiceleste's qualifying campaign so far, with three wins in four matches. It puts them second behind Brazil, who currently boast a hundred percent winning record in the qualifiers, though that might change when they face third-placed Ecuador. 

Brazil forward Neymar during practice. Photo: Twitter

After losing their Copa America hosting rights to Brazil, Argentina will try to gather some spirit with a win at home against Chile. Newly signed Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero will return to the squad after missing a number of games due to injury. Lautaro Martinez, however, might still get preference over Aguero in the starting XI alongside skipper Lionel Messi up front.   

In Brazil's return to international duty, they will be hoping to carry on from where they left off, building on an impressive start to their qualification campaign.

Tite's side have won all four matches so far and sit top of the table as the only South American nation to have claimed maximum points.