Will the Cafeteros continue their downward slide?
While Argentina have already qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Kater, Colombia are currently struggling to make it back next year after reaching two finals in a row. The Cafeteros are currently winless in six straight qualifiers and have failed to score a single goal in all of those six games.
With their backs against the wall, the Colombians travel to the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes if they are to turn the tide against the in-form Argentines. The Albiceleste have not lost any of their last 28 international matches. In the run-up to the clash between Argentina and Colombia, the odds are clearly in favour of the Gauchos.
With the Cafeteros currently finding it so difficult to score goals, there is also a lot to be said for betting on the Albiceleste going without conceding another goal in the Argentina-Colombia clash. So far, Argentina have conceded only seven goals in 14 qualifying matches.
Accordingly, bets are high on the home side to record a win without conceding a goal, which should severely dent Colombia’s World Cup hopes.
Argentina – Statistics & current form
The Argentina national football team is currently experiencing an absolute high under coach Lionel Scaloni. After a 28-year drought and four lost finals, the Albiceleste won the Copa América for the first time in Brazil in 2021.
It was the 15th overall victory in the South American championship for the two-time world champions, who naturally want to carry this momentum to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. After all, this World Cup is likely to be the last major tournament for players like Messi and Di María.
Haven’t lost in 28 internationals
The Argentines have already secured their ticket to the finals. After all, the Albiceleste have not lost a single one of their 14 qualifying matches (nine wins, five draws). Including their run at the Copa America 2021, they have 28 international matches in a row without defeat.
The Gauchos were by no means sitting back and relaxing recently, but were once again as biting as ever in Chile last Friday, even in the absence of captain Messi. Lionel Scaloni’s side won 2-1 in Santiago de Chile and dealt a major rival a serious setback in the battle for a place in the World Cup.
Averaging only 0.5 goals conceded per qualifying match
Now the Argentinians could also put a serious spanner in the Colombians’ works. In addition to the Albiceleste’s long unbeaten streak, the fact that there will at least be no defeat against the Cafeteros is also supported by their incredibly stable defence.
Scaloni’s team conceded only seven goals in the 14 qualifying matches they have played – an average of only 0.5 goals per game. With this in mind, the current fifth-placed team in the FIFA World Ranking will go into the 16th matchday of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers as clear favourites.
Predicted line-up of Argentina:
E. Martínez – Tagliafico, Li. Martínez, Pezzella, Molina – Gómez, Paredes, Lo Celso, Correa – Di María, La. Martinez
Last matches played by Argentina:
World Cup – Qualifiers CONMEBOL
01/28 2022 – Chile 1 – 2 Argentina
11/17 2021 – Argentina 0 – 0 Brazil
11/13 2021 – Uruguay 0 – 1 Argentina
10/15 2021 – Argentina 1 – 0 Peru
10/11 2021 – Argentina 3 – 0 Uruguay
Colombia – Statistics & current form
The Colombian national football team has successfully qualified for a World Cup finals six times so far. Five of these six appearances have come in the last eight tournaments. The last time the Cafeteros missed out was the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The last time Colombia reached the quarter-finals was in Brazil in 2014, the first time in their history, before making it all the way to the last 16 in 2018. Now, however, the overall winners of the Copa America 2001 in Qatar could once again have to make do with a spectator role.
First three wins from the 15 qualifying matches
The Colombian national team has won just three of its 15 qualifying matches so far. Although there have already been eight draws, “only” four defeats. However, with 17 points out of a possible 45, the 16th-placed team in the FIFA World Ranking is only sixth in the qualifying round.
They are three points behind fourth-placed Peru and two points off fifth place, which would still put them in the intercontinental play-offs. Accordingly, the Cafeteros are condemned to score away in Argentina if they are to turn the tide in the final three matchdays.
Winless and goalless in six qualifiers
The Colombian side’s current winless streak is problematic. They have not won a single one of their last six qualifying matches (four draws, two defeats). Most recently, they even suffered a heavy 1-0 defeat against their direct rivals Peru.
The main problem: The highly decorated offensive team just won’t score any more. The Colombian team has failed to score in all six of its qualifying matches. With this in mind, betting on a low-scoring game or even a win for the Albiceleste against Colombia is also a good idea.
Predicted Colombia line-up:
Ospina – Mojica – Sánchez – Mina – Cuadrado – Díaz – Uribe – Barrios – Rodríguez – Falcao – Borré
Last matches played by Colombia:
World Cup – CONMEBOL Qualifiers
01/28 2022 – Colombia 0 – 1 Peru
Friendly match
01/16 2022 – Colombia 2 – 1 Honduras
World Cup – Qualifier CONMEBOL
11/17 2021 – Colombia 0 – 0 Paraguay
11/12 2021 – Brazil 1 – 0 Colombia
10/14 2021 – Colombia 0 – 0 Ecuador
Argentina – Colombia Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 19 – 11 – 9
There have been a total of 39 international matches between the two nations so far and with 19 victories, the Argentines lead the direct comparison by a very clear margin. Most recently, the Albiceleste celebrated a victory over the Cafeteros on penalties in the semifinals of the Copa América 2021.
Argentina – Colombia Tip
For Argentina against Colombia, the prediction goes formally in the direction of the in-form Argentines, who have now gone 28 international matches in a row without defeat. On the other hand, the Cafeteros have not scored a goal in any of their last six qualifying matches and have consequently gone winless in all six. Qualification for the final round in Qatar has become an increasingly distant prospect.
With the Albiceleste conceding an average of just 0.5 goals per qualifying match, while Colombia’s attack has been completely lacklustre of late, the Cafeteros’ away goal is already not too likely.
