World Soccer - UK (2020-12)

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second round slots,11 had already been snapped
up, with two more all but mathematically allocated.
With a game still to go Peru had lost all hope of
having a team in the last16 – the country’s seventh
consecutive washout. And Colombia is close to its
third washout in four years – a very disappointing
return for a country that has punched well below its
weight since Atletico Nacional won the title in 2016.
Chile were also at risk, along with Bolivia and
Venezuela – although considering the leagues in
thelattertwonationshadyettorestart,thiswould
scarcely be a surprise.
River Plate were outstanding, but considering their
long lay off, it was striking how well almost all of the
Argentines performed on the restart. Argentina was
the only country to vote against the resumption
of the Libertadores, and there was much moaning
from the coaches of their clubs about the lack of

preparation relative to their opponents. But in the

event, their five teams did better in September

than they had done in March, when they were

at no physical disadvantage.

That said, the Brazilian contingent look especially

strong, in spite of Sao Paulo’s elimination.

Incidents involving Brazilian clubs have also

highlighted the determination to plough ahead with

the competition – and the dangers of doing so.

Reigning champions Flamengo spent over a week

in Ecuador, where they played two matches. Away

from their training centre, they found it harder to

isolate and protect their delegation, and suffered a

mass outbreak of coronavirus. In the end 20 players

tested positive, plus coaches and directors.

Several of these results had already come through

before the second game, against Barcelona of

Guayaquil, a city traumatised by its outbreak, where

in early April it was estimated that a third of its

inhabitants had the virus. The local health authorities

suspended the match – and all available political

levers were pulled to make sure that it went ahead.

An afternoon of backstage machinations ended with

the Ecuadorian national authorities over-ruling the

local, leaving the feeling that the main aim of the

emergency regulations is to protect the continuation

of the competition.

Flamengo’s first opponents on their Ecuador trip,

Independiente del Valle, then reported a coronavirus

outbreak of their own

And soon after the

end of the fifth week

of group phase action

came worrying news

of Raniel, a 24-year-

old striker with Santos.

He tested positive for

coronavirus at the start of September and served

his quarantine period before returning to the squad,

starting at home to Olimpia of Paraguay and then

coming off the bench away to Delfin of Ecuador

and in the return game against Olimpia.

Two days later he was in hospital with deep vein

thrombosis in his right leg – a condition probably

relatedtotheaftereffectsofCOVID-19plusthe

number of flights he had been taking to fulfil the

fixture marathon in the Brazilian Championship

and the Copa Libertadores.

Suffering...Santos

forward Raniel

Deadly duo...

River Plate strike

partners Rafael

Santos Borre and

Julian Alvarez

Considering their long lay off,

it was striking how well almost

all of the Argentines performed

on the restart