- Title: Argentina held by Venezuela at home
- Date: 6th September 2017
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 6, 2017) (REUTERS) VENEZUELA COACH, RAFAEL DUDAMEL, ENTERING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN COACH, RAFAEL DUDAMEL, SAYING: "To play with emotional intelligence and also with the necessity of a rival was fundamental. They [Argentina] are very talented, they are of the highest quality but also they are living through a moment of anguish. They are not accustomed to living through these moments and well, we have that aplomb and that tranquility to wait for our moment, to work the match and not despair and the team showed maturity, a lot of maturity." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, JORGE SAMPAOLI, SAYING: "We let pass a very important opportunity in the face of qualifying because we were very excited about winning the game today somehow and we went after it, but well, this is soccer and we know that these things can happen. Normally with the power that Argentina has from three-quarters of the field on and when it has 11 clear chances of goal and doesn't convert them and when the rival team converts us the first time, we end up a little confused. The truth is that we have to take advantage of the analysis and strengthen what what we did well to try to get the match with Peru in the same way and if we repeat the first half, we will be much closer to classification." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, JORGE SAMPAOLI, SAYING: "Leo [referring to Lionel Messi] is a player who was above the rest and that we have not been able to take advantage is worrying because with such a valuable player and not being able to crystallize on what Leo generates, it is what we have to improve on going forward." SAMPAOLI LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 20th September 2017 16:33
- Keywords: Rafael Dudamel Jorge Sampaoli Russia
- Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Sport,World Cup
- Reuters ID: LVA0016XGLR27
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Argentina came from behind to draw 1-1 with Venezuela on Tuesday (September 5) but their inability to take what should have been an easy three points means the 2014 losing finalists are still a long way from guaranteeing their place in Russia next year.
The home side had won all six of their previous home qualifiers against Venezuela and were expected to do the same against the team that is bottom of the South American group and without a win in 10 games.
Argentina's failure to take all three points left them fifth in the standings with two matches remaining, out of the top four spots which bring with them direct qualification for the finals.
"We let pass a very important opportunity in the face of qualifying because we were very excited about winning the game today somehow and we went after it, but well, this is soccer and we know that these things can happen. Normally with the power that Argentina has from three-quarters of the field on and when it has 11 clear chances of goal and doesn't convert them and when the rival team converts us the first time, we end up a little confused. The truth is that we have to take advantage of the analysis and strengthen what what we did well to try to get the match with Peru in the same way and if we repeat the first half, we will be much closer to classification," Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said after the match.
Venezuela were already well out of the running for Russia but they got the opening goal just four minutes into the second half.
Brazil top the 10-team group and are the only South America side to have so far qualified for Russia 2018. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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