Brilliant Messi helps Argentina pocket ticket to Brazil
Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina booked their place at the World Cup with a 5-2 thrashing of Paraguay on Tuesday. Argentina captain Messi struck a penalty in each half as the South American giants made sure of their place at next year’s finals in Brazil in emphatic fashion. The Argentines only needed a point in the Paraguayan capital to be certain of qualification.
But Alejandro Sabella’s side demonstrated why they are likely to be regarded as one of the teams to beat in Brazil by tearing into the home team from the whistle. Messi fired them ahead from the penalty spot on 12 minutes only for Paraguay to equalise through Jose Nunez six minutes later.
Sergio Aguero restored Argentina’s lead on 32 minutes, shrugging off two markers before rifling past Roberto Fernandez to make it 2-1. Angel Di Maria extended Argentina’s lead soon after half-time, sweeping forward on a lightning-fast counter attack and coolly steering a low shot beyond Fernandez on 50 minutes. Argentina earned a second penalty moments later when Salustiano Candia was harshly adjudged to have fouled Messi in the area. Messi duly dusted himself down and blasted in his second goal of the night to make it 4-1.
Paraguay veteran Roque Santa Cruz struck a late consolation goal for the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists but Maxi Rodriguez hit back for Argentina in the dying minutes to make it 5-2. Elsewhere on Tuesday, second place Colombia missed their chance to clinch qualification after crashing 2-0 to Uruguay in Montevideo. Late Uruguayan goals from Paris St Germain striker Edinson Cavani and Cristian Stuani handed the two-time World Cup winners a dramatic win at the Centenario Stadium as Colombia’s celebrations were put on ice.
Venezuela kept alive their slim hopes of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time when they beat Peru 3-1 in Puerto La Cruz in their South American qualifier on Tuesday.
Italy, Netherlands seal World Cup berths
ROME: Italy and the Netherlands became the first European nations to clinch qualification for the 2014 World Cup finals with victories on a busy night of action on Tuesday. Another of the continent’s most famous names, Germany, are also now on the brink of qualification, as are Switzerland, while Russia and England ensured that their destinies remain in their own hands.
Libor Kozak gave the Czechs the lead in the first half before Giorgio Chiellini netted a 51st-minute equaliser and AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli struck the winner from the penalty spot. Robin van Persie had saved the Dutch in Tallinn on Friday with an injury-time penalty and he scored twice four minutes apart early in the second half to see off Andorra. Germany could have qualified on Tuesday too, but while they ran out 3-0 winners in the Faroe Islands, with Per Mertesacker and Thomas Mueller on target either side of a Mesut Ozil penalty, other results did not go in their favour.
Joachim Loew’s side needed Sweden to slip-up in Kazakhstan but a first-minute Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal, his 45th for his country, gave the Scandinavian nation a 1-0 win. England still have work to do in Group H, even if a goalless draw in Ukraine left them a point clear of both their hosts and Montenegro, while Poland are also still in contention thanks to a 5-1 success in San Marino. And France moved back level on points with Spain at the top of Group I, after coming from behind twice to win 4-2 in Belarus
