Colombia vs. Argentina: Date, Time, Live Stream for 2018 World Cup Qualifier
Argentina face a must-win situation when they travel to Colombia for Matchday 4 of CONMEBOL 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, as the South American giants are desperate for a result.
The Albiceleste haven taken just two points from their first three matches and currently sit ninth in the group standings, just one spot above last place. With only the top four qualifying automatically for the 2018 World Cup, Argentina already have some serious catching up to do.
Colombia haven't fared much better, taking four points from their first three matches, good for fifth place. The hosts will also be eager for a positive result and will like their chances against an out-of-form Argentina squad.
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Date: Tuesday, Nov. 17
Time: 8:30 p.m. GMT/3:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, Barranquilla, Colombia
Live Stream: BeIN Sports Connect, Fubo TV
Preview
To say Argentina's start to the qualifying campaign has been a disaster would be an understatement. The Albiceleste, who were finalists at the 2014 World Cup, are one of just two teams who have yet to win a match, and with just one goal scored in three matches, they field the least-productive attack in CONMEBOL.
A lack of efficiency in front of goal has doomed Argentina in the past few months, including during the Copa America, per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wilson:
"The lack of cutting edge that has been such a problem for so long—and a mystifying one given the attacking resources available to them—came back to haunt them in the final, a 0-0 draw against Chile and penalty shoot-out defeat. It’s the potential of the forward line that Martino must unlock.
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It's a little too easy pointing fingers at manager Gerardo Martino and suggesting he find a solution, however. Argentina are missing a host of talented forwards through injury, with Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez all sidelined.
Gonzalo Higuain is in the best form of his life as far as club football goes, but he rarely replicates his scoring exploits on the international level. And while youngsters Paulo Dybala and Angel Correa both look supremely talented, they lack the experience to take over matches on this level.
Despite all of that, Argentina have to find a way to win in Colombia. Even Martino knows it, as he told reporters after the 1-1 draw against Brazil, via Goal.com's Tom Beck:
"It was a positive performance, but from the points [view] no. We need to win in Colombia.
The team made an effort throughout the match to win, this was highlighted in the first half. They [Brazil] had an effectiveness that we did not.
[…]
If the response is that we must stand up, so be it.
"
Colombia battled to an impressive draw in Chile on Matchday 3, with the returning James Rodriguez scoring the equaliser. The hosts are a different team when the Real Madrid star leads the squad, and he'll be the main danger man on Tuesday.
Per Goal's Tom Beck, Jackson Martinez will miss the match through injury, which probably means AC Milan star Carlos Bacca will be handed the start. Bacca has been in fine form since moving to Serie A from Sevilla, but Martinez still got the nod against the Chileans.
Colombia can be devastating when they attack in numbers, with the wingers pulling defenders out of position and the likes of Rodriguez sprinting into the box.
It will be a big test for Argentina's defence, but the Albiceleste have been reasonably successful on that end of the pitch against some of the best teams CONMEBOL has to offer. Instead, the focus will be on attack, where Higuain will have to come through in a big way.
He and Ezequiel Lavezzi are Argentina's two most in-form attackers, and against Chile's strong but static defence, they should be able to find space.
Prediction: Colombia 1-1 Argentina
