The CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers have already come to an end and the four teams that have automatically qualified have been revealed. But which of them actually stands a chance next summer?
Argentina finished first in the group and is being touted as one of the top teams in Brazil next summer. Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria are among the best players in the world at their respective positions (Messi is considered the best in the world) and the team's attacking presence may be enough to take down other top teams. Argentina is surely a favorite but its backline remains suspect and could ultimately destroy the team as it did in 2010 against Germany.
Colombia finished second in the group but was not particularly impressive over the last two games of qualifying. The team showed grit to bounce back from a 3-0 deficit and earn a draw but it also got lucky to be given a man advantage for most of the second half. Radamel Falcao has been solid for the national team but Colombia has not been on the big stage since 1998 and could fold under pressure. They are definitely contenders, but not favorites.
Chile proved to have a ton of fire in its friendly with Spain last week and came moments away from a shocking win. This team has the firepower upfront to be a dominant force in Brazil, but it may suffer from a mediocre defense.
Ecuador is a balanced defensive team but they may lack the offensive skill to take down the elite teams at the World Cup. Poor performances against Spain and Germany in recent friendlies have only added to this belief that Ecuador will not make much noise next summer.
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