Hello friends, good vibes to all.
Dates of the qualifiers ended which represented a hard, a very hard blow to Venezuela's aspirations for the 2026 World Cup. Not long ago we were in fourth place celebrating and celebrating the victory over Chile 3-0, people felt empowered and with full confidence; everything seemed to be very clear. Just today it has been a year since that match but the situations and sensations are 300% different and the fact is that out of the last 18 points we have scored only 4 units, for me that is lapidary and a reflection that many things were apparently a mirage. The match at the Defensores del Chaco I would dare to say that it was one of the last nails in the Vinotinto's coffin.
I have said it many times, faith is of no use to me or at least it is not enough, this idea that we are going to reach the World Cup moved by divine grace is a consolation that we have to take away. Those who will get to the United States, Mexico and Canada will be those who work the hardest, those who do things the best, those who have a steel mentality, a winning attitude and those who fight for each and every ball on the field. I did not see most of these attitudes in the players on Tuesday, that match was transcendental, perhaps one of the most important matches that the national team was going to play in these qualifiers and even knowing that, they played a much poorer version of what was expected.
It was an extremely physical game, one of those that Paraguay is very used to playing and it is not the first time we see them in that tone, from the first minutes they tried to impose themselves and assert their locality; the issue here was to avoid falling into that, it did not happen. Right there, when we entered their game, we were already losing, because yes, Paraguay beat us both on the field and mentally. If we add to this the strange performance of the Chilean referee, the reality is that we were playing against 13 elements: the 11 Paraguayans, the referee and the public. I don't like to make excuses for the referees but what happened on Tuesday was very evident and that's where the mind also plays a role because the players feel that everything is against them.
I won't say that Venezuela's first half was bad because despite the circumstances and the complicated situation, they were able to keep Paraguay at bay to the point of scoring the winning goal through Jon Aramburu, one of the best and most consistent players of the team, thanks to a good drive and assist from Soteldo. Leading 1-0 was ideal. But beware, just because it wasn't that bad doesn't mean there weren't mistakes. There was never a fluidity and good ball handling in the midfield, that connection between Savarino-Machis-Herrera with those up top was never seen, Machis never went down to support Aramburu, Navarro on the other side was non-existent and Soteldo did not do the relays either. Tactically it was a disaster.
The second half was total chaos. The first goal there was nothing to do, Sanabria managed to beat Ferraresi's back and the first goal. I think that with the 1-0 the Bocha could have put a certain lock on the midfield with Rincón and freshen up the wing with Alexander Gonzalez. Instead he preferred to continue giving minutes to Machís, a guy who is not ready for the national team, the second goal was evidence of that. He was seen walking and looking at the player, who was supposed to be his mark, as he headed alone at the far post. Zero commitment and vocation for defense. Besides the fact that the changes came late were not effective. Cadiz came in well but with a total disconnection in attack they could do little because not even crosses were falling.
To be in the eighth round is a resounding failure, we were relegated in a resounding way both in points and in quality of play. From this platform we have always supported Bocha but on Tuesday he lost the game along with the players that did not work. And the most worrying thing is that I see him overconfident and arrogant, maybe the procession goes inside and it is his job to be optimistic but the criticism is good, he says he is “calm” as well as the whole group. The next date, next month, will be against Brazil in Maturin and as visitors against Chile. A more complex match than the other because, despite the Chilean current situation, playing there is always a challenge. A date in which we have to go for the 6 points, it is that clear, anything else will not help us and this way and only this way we will get out, halfway, of the relegation.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos leemos en la próxima!
Well friends that's all for today, I hope you liked it.
¡A hug to all, see you next time!