We take a look at the teams that didn’t do so well.
Classification
- Argentina, 25 points (+14 GD)
- Uruguay, 20 points (+8 GD)
- Ecuador, 19 points (+7 GD)
- Colombia, 19 points (+5 GD)
- Brazil, 18 points (+6 GD)
- Paraguay, 17 points (+1 GD)
- Bolivia, 13 points (-14 GD)
- Venezuela, 12 points (-4 GD)
- Chile, 9 points (-11 GD)
- Peru, 7 points (-12 GD)
Peru
Now rock bottom with seven points from 12 games, Jorge Fossati’s men are currently two points behind rising Chile as 2024 draws to a close. La Bicolor are six points out of seventh place, which is the playoff spot, and will regret missing out on the opportunity to gain ground on the Chileans with a 0-0 draw last week that could prove costly. Sure, the Peruvians only narrowly lost to Argentina 1-0 in Buenos Aires, but there are no points for that, especially in an area as cutthroat as CONMEBOL. It could have been more respectable, but Chile’s 4-2 victory against Venezuela now makes the clashes between Bolivia and Vinotinto crucial for Fossati and his players. Even so, Paraguay is possibly the game left for the Blanquirroja with the best chance of winning, along with Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay also to come.
Panic meter classification: 9/10
Venezuela
Currently in the race for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup are the Venezuelans, who are in eighth place, just one point behind Bolivia in the race for a playoff spot. However, a five-point gap with Paraguay in the final automatic spot means there is essentially already a race between Vinotinto and La Verde for that playoff spot. Peru and Bolivia are possibly the only matches that Fernando Batista’s troops can really hope to win, so any match against Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina or Colombia could prove crucial. A draw with Brazil this month was creditable, but a 4-2 loss to Chile was poor and eliminated them as soon as they earned it.
Panic meter classification: 6/10
Colombia
Los Cafeteros have fallen to fourth place after a pair of potentially damaging unexpected losses this month. The Colombians went down 3-2 to Uruguay in very late circumstances when a point seemed within reach and then a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ecuador despite playing most of the match with 11 men against 10 would not have pleased them at all. Nestor Lorenzo. . Colombia, which went from second place to being two points ahead of the last automatic spot, is at least six points ahead of the playoffs. However, they are also six points behind leaders Argentina, with Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela likely to pick up some points in the remaining matches. It could be that the results of Brazil and the Albiceleste define the race for first place as far as James Rodríguez and his teammates are concerned.
Panic meter classification: 3/10
Brazil
Ending the year in fifth place after drawing with Venezuela and Uruguay, the Selecao are five points ahead of the playoffs, but now seven behind leaders and bitter rivals Argentina. Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos appealed to fans not to turn their backs on the Brazilian team, but Dorival Junior and his players continue to confront him after this. A tough early run in Colombia, Argentina and Ecuador means things could get worse before they get better for Vinicius Junior and his compatriots. There is no choice but to hope that the final series of matches that include Paraguay, Chile and Bolivia end up providing crucial points so as not to be dragged closer to the playoffs as the matches progress.
Panic meter classification: 8/10
