Miracles happen and Colombia can certify this to perfection, as it needed one to aspire not to miss out on the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022and it is about to happen. The Cafetaleros beat Bolivia 3-0 (Luis Diaz, Miguel Borja, and Mateus Uribe) and now their situation has changed drastically.
Reinaldo Rueda’s team broke a streak of 7 matches in a row without a win in the Conmebol Qualifiers. This was a breath of pure oxygen for their aspirations to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, something they have not achieved since 1998.
Colombia has participated in six World Cups so far. Its best participation so far was in Brazil 2014, where it reached the quarterfinals but ended up being defeated by the host of the tournament with Neymar as its great leader.
What does Colombia need to qualify for Qatar 2022?
Fate is conspiring in Colombia’s favor. For starters, in this 17th round of the Conmebol Qualifiers, To keep a chance to be in Qatar 2022,Reinaldo Rueda’s team needed to win, which it did, and that Chile and Peru did not do so: wish granted.
Uruguay sealed its qualification to Qatar 2022 at the expense of Peru with a solitary goal by Giorgian de Arrascaeta. Also, Brazil destroyed Chile 4-0, leaving them with no chance of qualifying for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Therefore, Colombia’s fight for the half-ticket that FIFA grants Conmebol for Qatar 2022 is only with Peru. The equation then has become slightly simpler as the Cafetaleros are sixth in the standings with 20 points and the Incas fifth with 21.
To start with, Colombia needs Peru not to win its match against Paraguay, which can no longer fight for a place in Qatar 2022, and to defeat Venezuela as the away team. In case of a draw against the Vinotinto, Colombia would need Ricardo Gareca’s team to lose or draw to snatch the fifth place in the standings, thanks to its better goal average,and thus get the half ticket that would lead them to seek their ticket to Qatar 2022 against an Asian National Team in the Intercontinental Playoff.
Peru regrets its loss against Uruguay. (Matilde Campodonico – Pool/Getty Images)
