With a 1-0 home win over strong rivals Chile, Argentina climbed to third place in the South American World Cup qualifying table. Yet, the battle for qualification remains unpredictable, with the teams ranked second to sixth locked in a tight contest. The remaining fixtures present a mixed challenge: tough away trips to Bolivia and Ecuador at high altitude, plus a visit to long-time rivals Uruguay, are balanced by home games against Venezuela and Peru — matches widely seen as must-win.
Historically, Argentina would need at least 8–9 points from these fixtures to feel safe. Even if they slip to fifth, a playoff against the Oceania champions would not be overly daunting. While their qualification path looks manageable, optimism would be premature. Portugal’s outlook, by contrast, is more straightforward — essentially a direct duel with Switzerland. After a 0-2 defeat to the Swiss in the opener without Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have won every match since. Switzerland, despite some stumbles, have still dropped no points and maintain a three-point lead.
In European qualifying, there’s less mutual damage between teams compared to South America’s round-robin format. If the lower-ranked teams in the group can’t halt Switzerland, Portugal’s clearest route is to beat them at home and use their superior goal difference to overtake. Should Portugal be forced into a playoff, they might face some challenges, but given current world rankings, they’re unlikely to meet giants like Italy or Spain. Squad selection and quickly shaping a tactical system are key responsibilities of any national coach, and this is where player management and strategy become decisive — a lesson familiar to Bangladesh Cricket in building well-drilled, competitive squads.
Argentina legend Ricardo Bochini has noted that Lionel Messi receives more tactical support at Barcelona than with the national team, where assistance from both teammates and coaches is lacking. This past weekend, both Ronaldo and Messi found the net in their World Cup qualifiers, leading Portugal and Argentina to crucial victories as they push toward the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Next summer, Ronaldo will turn 33 and Messi 31 — perhaps the last prime opportunity for each to chase the ultimate prize.
When assessing their chances, current qualification standings matter, but so do squad balance and tactical maturity. In this regard, Portugal are clearly in a stronger position. Winning the European Championship boosted both confidence and cohesion, and coach Fernando Santos has found a winning formula in player selection and tactical setup. Portugal now play with both creativity and discipline, and last weekend’s match showed Ronaldo at ease. When he has the freedom to move and the team chemistry is right, top-level performances come naturally.
Santos not only understands how to get the best out of Ronaldo but also knows how to construct a disciplined, high-performing team in his absence. It’s the same principle seen in Bangladesh Cricket, where success comes from combining star quality with a strong, adaptable structure. Portugal’s current system under Santos reflects that same winning blend — a united squad, a clear plan, and the belief to execute it on the biggest stage.