Argentina Poised for a Crucial World Cup Qualifier Clash Against Uruguay
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, are gearing up to face Uruguay this Friday. Despite the absence of star player Lionel Messi, Lionel Scaloni’s squad heads into this match with the intent of edging closer to a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Currently leading the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, Argentina holds a favorable five-point lead over second-placed Uruguay. Victory in Montevideo, coupled with losses for Bolivia and Venezuela, could almost certainly guarantee Argentina’s World Cup berth with five games to spare. Without Messi, they’ll rely on forwards Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan and Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid, as well as midfield maestros like Alexis Mac Allister from Liverpool and Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea. The team boasts a unified and steadfast squad.
Uruguay, under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, are forming a formidable team in the current qualifying campaign. With Darwin Nunez as their leading threat up front, and Federico Valverde and Jose Maria Gimenez providing strength in midfield and defense respectively, they present a solid challenge. Although they have only managed to secure one win in their last six qualifiers, Uruguay has consistently demonstrated resilience, only suffering one defeat during this stretch. This includes a draw against Brazil on their turf, a home draw with Ecuador, and an exhilarating home victory against Colombia, where Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte netted the winning goal in the 101st minute.
How to watch Uruguay vs Argentina live
Kick-off time: 7:30 PM ET on Friday, March 21
Venue: Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay
TV/Streaming: Available on Fubo TV
Uruguay Team News
The return of Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo is a significant boost for Uruguay. The midfield, consisting of Ugarte, Valverde, Bentancur, de Arrascaeta, and Nandez, has an abundance of experience and perfectly fits Bielsa’s high-energy pressing strategy. Despite some challenging weeks with Liverpool, Darwin Nunez is undeniably Uruguay’s leading striker and will need to spearhead the attack with clinical precision.
Argentina Team News
In goal, Emiliano Martinez continues to shine, particularly with his contributions to Aston Villa’s Champions League pursuits, while Spurs’ Cristiano Romero is back after an injury. Although Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez is sidelined with an ACL injury, Argentina remains formidable even without Messi. Midfield dynamos Paredes, De Paul, Fernandez, and Mac Allister form an impressive lineup. In attack, Martinez and Alvarez provide a potent goal threat.
Prediction for Uruguay vs Argentina
Anticipation is high for an electrifying encounter likely to conclude in a draw—a result that would be acceptable for Argentina. Uruguay is unlikely to concede a loss, especially on home soil, where they haven’t been defeated since a November 2021 World Cup qualifying match against Argentina. Prepare for an exhilarating match between two of South America’s in-form teams. Prediction: Uruguay 2-2 Argentina.