If there was an ideal way to qualify for the Olympic Games, it was by beating Brazil in a defining match.
And Javier Mascherano's Under 23 Team was able to do it.
It was a hard-fought but deserved 1-0 at the Brígido Iriarte National Stadium in Caracas.
Argentina, led by a constant Thiago Almada, a key Luciano Gondou, an influential Valentín Barco and a confident Leandro Brey, won the classic and thus obtained tickets for Paris 2024.
So even was this Pre-Olympic that the four teams in the bidding reached the last date with chances of both qualifying and being left out.
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela, anyone could dream.
And the dream came true for the Albiceleste team that will go for the third gold medal.
There was determination to enter the National Team.
He came out to put pressure on Brazil aboard the 4-2-3-1 that Mascherano had for this decisive match, with four changes compared to the initial formation of the agonizing draw with Paraguay.
The return of Valentín Barco (he served his suspension) gave him depth on the right wing.
Colo's contributions always worried the Brazilian last line on that side.
Several centers fell from there, but none could be taken advantage of.
The entry of Luciano Gondou for Pablo Solari was the great tactical novelty of the Argentine coach.
Thus, Santiago Castro went down to the right, Thiago Almada was positioned behind the center forward and Cristian Medina went to the left.
Barco fought a lot but he also played: he scored the center of the goal. Photo: AP
There were moments of good touches in that midfield.
But there were also several sections in which nerves and inaccuracies dominated.
In fact, the few approaches that Brazil had in a very discreet first half were due to errors by Argentina.
Clara was only one of Menezes' team: a left-footed shot from Alexsander that passed close.
A free kick from Almada on the post was the best situation for the albiceleste side.
Afterwards, Masche's team dominated, although without being successful when it came to entering the green-and-yellow area.
There was a lack of change of pace in a team that had a hard time breaking out of the mold to break a rival whose greatest virtue was defensive order.
Brazil did not show an aggressive stance;
quite the opposite.
He crouched and, for example, the times he counted on the power of the ball to impose his weight, he did not do so.
On rare occasions he crossed the half-court line.
Some variations were necessary for the second half, but Mascherano only moved the bench 19 minutes into the second half, with the entry of Solari for Castro, who never felt comfortable as a right-wing midfielder.
The one who did make variations before was Menezes in Brazil.
He put John Kennedy, the figure of Fluminense, who began to make a difference with his interventions and forced Leandro Brey to show off with a couple of spectacular covers at point-blank range.
Given the difficulty in preparation, the dead ball was welcome for the light blue and white team.
From a free kick from the right came a header from Nicolás Valentini that went close to the post.
The most dangerous thing does not come through collective play or individuality.
With 15 minutes left,
Claudio Echeverri came on for a weak Medina
, who had a great header opportunity before leaving, but his header went wide.
El Diablito didn't get to touch it, but Argentina got the goal they needed thanks to his beacon in the area.
El Diablito entered at the hottest moment of the game.
Photo: AP
Gondou, who got tired of fighting inside and outside the area
, capitalized on a good cross from Barco and with a header between the two rival centre-backs finally beat the zero on the scoreboard.
The National Team deserved it, more for impetus than for clarity, but they deserved it in the end.
The goal unleashed Argentina and further sank a lost Brazil
.
He could have made a couple more of the Albiceleste cast from there.
Thiago Almada grew bigger to command the actions and gain air in that final stretch, receiving several infractions.
He got revenge with another free kick, but this time Mycael took it.
The goal that earned the ticket to Paris!
Luciano Gondou's goal for @Argentina's celebration in the classic against #Brazil on the last day of the Final Phase of the #CONMEBOLPreolympic.
🇦🇷 ⚽ 🛫 #CreeEnGrande pic.twitter.com/6uvkpvcPHW
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) February 11, 2024
Barco hit the crossbar with his left foot.
And Solari lost an ideal one-on-one match to finish him off.
However, the victory was not in danger.
Brazil could no longer react.
Argentina once again ruined his plans, left him without Paris and was left with a place for the mid-year event.