Messi and Argentina humiliated 3-0 by arch-rivals Brazil in World Cup qualifier

With respect to the United States vs. Mexico showdown on Friday, and England vs. Scotland that same day, the biggest game of the international break was played on Thursday night when Argentina traveled to Brazil to take on its blood rival in a match the Argentines badly needed to win to stay in the pack for a spot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Brazil, on the other hand, went into the 11th matchday at ease, leading South American qualifying. And so, naturally, because that’s the way these things go, the Brazilians hammered the Argentines 3-0. Because Brazil is resurgent after a two-year swoon. And Argentina is deep in crisis – not to mention currently out of the World Cup places – after reaching major finals in three consecutive summers at the World Cup, the Copa America and the Copa America Centenario, yet losing all three.

For a rivalry of this magnitude, and there may not be a bigger one in international soccer, the proceedings were suitably chippy from the start. And Brazil soon took control. The home team was lucky, however, not to lose Fernandinho to an expulsion early on. He planted an elbow into the face of the recently internationally unretired Lionel Messi and got a yellow. By the 17th minute, he probably should have been sent off for trampling Messi, who would otherwise be anonymous, on the run.

Argentina also got off the first warning when Lucas Biglia’s shot forced a good save from Allison.

But in the 25th minute, Philippe Coutinho scored a dazzler. He cut inside from the flank, ran away from Javier Mascherano and slammed his finish into the upper 90.

Neymar then came close, dancing around his markers – plural – but hitting the near post.

On the brink of halftime, however, Neymar got away and scored. He was dispatched by Renato Augusto and simply slotted in his finish.

Just 10 minutes after intermission, Paulinho nearly got another, but Pablo Zabaleta cleared the ball off the line.

In the very next minute, Ramiro Funes Mori should have been given a red card for a savage foul on Neymar but wasn’t.

But Brazil would get its third in the 58th minute anyway. Marcelo’s cross was cut back by Augusto and poked in by Paulinho.

And things very nearly got worse in the late going. Roberto Firmino, however, failed to bundle a cross from Augusto into an open goal.

Argentina’s humiliation would get no worse. Three goals was bad enough. As is the realization that with seven games to play, the Albiceleste are sixth on their continent, with only five teams going to Russia or the playoff for a final spot.

Alarm bells are ringing in Argentina.

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.