Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the World Cup qualifying match.
Even though Argentina have already secured qualification for the World Cup, and Venezuela are a beatable opponent, this meeting should still feel special. A farewell to Lionel Messi from the Argentine public is being prepared, although he has not announced anything officially. The match will likely be his last official home appearance for Argentina.
Argentina
It is not known how many minutes the captain will play, but his presence would help significantly. Lionel Messi scores in almost every game and he keeps his composure. The other day Inter Miami CF were beaten 3:0 by Seattle Sounders FC in the Leagues Cup final, but, unlike other stars in the squad, he accepted the defeat with dignity. During a post-match fracas it was reported that Luis Suárez spat in the face of a Seattle Sounders FC director, and that Sergio Busquets punched an opponent in the jaw. Fortunately, different personnel feature for Argentina. The only overlap is Rodrigo De Paul from Inter Miami CF, but he was not noted for anything especially untoward.
Venezuela
For Venezuela this fixture is far more significant in tournament terms. They are competing for a World Cup berth. They currently sit seventh, which leads to the intercontinental play-offs, and they are four points from an automatic place. Even a play-off spot is not guaranteed, because Bolivia trail by just one point. After Argentina, Venezuela will face Colombia, who are in sixth. By that stage Colombia will very likely be out of reach.
Argentina vs Venezuela Prediction
A home win in the match against Colombia, who will by then have settled their own issues, will most likely go to Venezuela, but in Buenos Aires they also need to be more than part of the celebration; they must be genuine opponents. We expect the visitors to avoid a heavy defeat.
