Go on Venezuela!

Pepe LeFrits

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_football/3600145.stm

Last Tuesday Argentina beat Ecuador in Buenos Aires.

Hernan Crespo's shot from the edge of the area was not only the only goal of the game, it was the only one scored by any of the five home sides in last week's round of World Cup qualifiers.

Bolivia, Uruguay and Peru went down in front of their own fans.

Even those home sides who avoided defeat - Argentina and Paraguay, who drew 0-0 with Brazil - could not be happy with their performances.

And this is a continent where home advantage usually counts for so much.

In part, this might be explained by the glorious unpredictability that is such a strong part of football's appeal. But perhaps there is also something else.

This was the round where Fifa bent over backwards to the European clubs, allowing them to release their players just 48 hours before the matches - half the usual norm for World Cup qualifiers.

All of the South American coaches were complaining about the lack of time to prepare.

There is no doubt that in football it is far easier to defend and destroy than it is to create and attack.

Having such little time on the training ground did more damage to those sides who had the obligation to carry the game to the opposition.

It tipped the balance towards the teams who based their game on organised defence and rapid counter-attacks.

It was a good round, then, to be the away side. But even if the circumstances worked to their advantage, the visitors still had to be competent enough to cash in - and Venezuela were more than competent.

They were so outstanding that they shocked an entire continent when they won 3-0 away to Uruguay.

The Centenario Stadium in Montevideo is one of football's most legendary grounds.

It was built especially for the first World Cup, back in 1930, which Uruguay won. Even nowadays when Uruguay play there the team seem to take on the mystique of the great names of the past.

Brazil have faced Uruguay 20 times at the Centenario, and recorded just two victories - in 1932 and 1976.

They have never won a Copa America match or a World Cup qualifier. And now the traditional whipping boys of South American football leave the great old stage with a 3-0 win.

Venezuela were nothing less than superb.

Their passing in midfield was a joy to behold. They attacked with poise and pace, and showed staunch defence against the team which has scored more goals than any other in the current qualification campaign.

Venezuela are the only South American side never to have made it to the World Cup.

Indeed, they have never even come close. This victory, though, establishes them as serious candidates for a 2006 place.

It is their third successive win. Brazil have drawn their last three.

Incredibly, after five rounds the world champions are level on points with the team that nobody used to take seriously.

In six months time Venezuela will host Brazil in the ninth round of qualifiers. The countdown is on to the biggest game in the history of Venezuelan football.

Jeez, Uruguay's record against Brazil at home is very surprising!

Big Ears

Not really with the way Brazil only scrape into qualifiying for the world cup every time they have to ( which will be every 4 years from now on ) .

I hope venezuela can qualifiy it would be good for the football there seeing as they have never been to a World Cup Finals , it would get more people interested in football over there .