INTERNATIONAL: Argentina and Brazil drew a tense and end-to-end match 0-0 on Tuesday. Both teams retained their unbeaten record in the South American World Cup qualifiers. Brazil is the only side in the ten-team South American section to guarantee their place in next year's finals and Argentina, sitting in the second place six points behind, look certain to join them. The top four teams qualify automatically for Qatar, and the fifth-placed side go into an inter-regional playoff.

 Brazil’s Coach Tite says, "Who was responsible for the VAR (Video Assistant Referee)? It is impossible, I repeat, impossible to not see (Argentina’s Nicolas) Otamendi's elbow on Raphinha. I am not talking about the results of the match. It is very clear who wants an exemption of the analysis. Would that determine the results of the match? I don't know. Was it a great game between the two sides? (It was) a great game, with tradition and technical quality. The technical level of the two teams, the marking and positioning. The strength of the two teams and individual duels, the alternating of moments of control and dominance made it a World Cup match.”

Neither side was able to impose themselves in an entertaining match with Fred's second half shot for Brazil that clipped the top of the bar the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock. However, Brazil’s coach Tite was critical of an alleged elbow during the match. The goalless draw in San Juan means Argentina is now 27 matches unbeaten, a run stretching back more than two years. The last time these teams met the action lasted just five minutes when officials invaded the pitch to serve Argentine players they accused of not following the proper COVID-19 quarantine rules.

^{PHOTO: SOUNDBITES FROM BRAZIL COACH TITE ON QUALIFIER AGAINST ARGENTINA}