Argentina continues to dominate South American World Cup qualifying as they travel to Asuncion to face Paraguay on Thursday.
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With Lionel Messi and his teammates sitting comfortably at the top of the CONMEBOL standings, they’re aiming to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup finals, where they’ll defend their crown. However, a tricky encounter against Paraguay looms on the horizon, and the hosts will be desperate to keep their qualification hopes alive.
After a brilliant 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia, Argentina remains three points clear of Colombia, sitting on 22 points. A hat trick by Messi was the highlight of their latest victory, and with such performances, Argentina is closing in on automatic qualification. Scaloni’s squad has shown resilience on the road, collecting 10 points from their last five away games, but they’ve recently dropped points in Colombia and Venezuela. Nevertheless, Argentina is keen to finish at the top of the group, a feat they haven’t achieved in the last two qualifying cycles.
Paraguay, on the other hand, is in a strong position to secure a playoff spot for the World Cup, sitting inside the top six. Under coach Gustavo Alfaro, La Albirroja has seen a significant improvement in form, earning eight points from their last four games. Their latest results have included a vital win over Venezuela and impressive draws against Brazil and Uruguay. Paraguay’s pragmatic style of play has been effective, with the team scoring just four goals and conceding four in their 10 matches so far, but it has been enough to keep them in contention for qualification.
When these two teams meet, the matches are typically tight and low-scoring. Their last encounters have produced minimal goals, and the last two played in Paraguay ended goalless. With both sides focused on qualification, it’s expected to be another tactical battle, with Paraguay’s defense against Argentina’s potent attack. The hosts will likely play for a draw, aiming to secure a seventh clean sheet in 11 qualifiers.
Team News:
Paraguay’s squad is almost unchanged, but there are concerns over several players’ lack of game time at club level. Antonio Sanabria has been in good form with Torino, but players like Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso, and Ramon Sosa are struggling for minutes in the Premier League. Despite these challenges, Alfaro’s side remains solid at home.
For Argentina, Enzo Fernandez is a key figure, even if his club form at Chelsea has been inconsistent. Giovani Lo Celso, who recovered from injury, will add strength to the midfield, and Scaloni could opt for him over Lautaro Martinez in attack. Argentina will also welcome back Emiliano Martinez, who returns from a two-match suspension to take his place in goal.
Possible Lineups:
Paraguay: Fernandez; Caceres, Gomez, Alderete, Balbuena, Alonso; Cubas, Gomez; Almiron, Sanabria, Enciso.
Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo, Lo Celso, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.
With Paraguay’s excellent recent form at home and Argentina’s push for qualification, this promises to be a tense affair. A draw would suit both teams, but Argentina will be aiming for a win to keep their momentum going, especially with a crucial match against Peru next week.
