Brazil defeats Colombia and guarantees a spot in the Qatar World Cup

Brazil’s nearly flawless campaign in the qualifiers was crowned with a spot in the World Cup. With six games still to play, the Brazilian team is classified for the tournament in Qatar, in 2022.

A goal by Lucas Paquetá, 26 minutes into the second half, was enough for Tite’s team to defeat Colombia by 1-0, this Thursday (11), at Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo. The result guaranteed Brazil the first South American country to qualify for the World Cup.

With 34 points, Tite’s team can even be reached by Chile, Uruguay and Colombia, who occupy between the 4th and 6th place in the table. All have 16 points. But even if that happens, the selection has 11 wins, the first tie-breaker. In this, it cannot be achieved.

The first four are classified. The fifth plays in the recap against mainland rivals yet to be determined.

Brazil is undefeated in the qualifiers and just doesn’t have 100% success because they drew 0-0 with the same Colombia, in Barranquilla. With the exception of this equality, he won the 11 other games he played. It is the best campaign in South America since Conmebol adopted the current system, in which all ten teams face off in round-trip matches.

The formula was used from the 1998 World Cup qualifiers in France.

Tite also extended his unbeaten record in the South American qualifier. Now there are 24 unbeaten games in the tournament: 12 in the current competition and 12 in the dispute for the place in Russia, in 2018. In total, the coach has 50 wins, 12 draws and 5 losses in charge of the national team.

The coach’s concern becomes, from now on, the World Cup. He himself confirmed that in the final six rounds, with his place already guaranteed, he will be able to try it out. New players must be given a chance. He must also better handle the demands of Brazilian clubs, who are always unhappy when their athletes are called up.

Tite also plans to travel to Qatar next month to watch the Arab Cup matches, a tournament that will serve as a test run for the World Cup. You will also visit stadiums to be used in the competition.

At least this Thursday, the game at Neo Química Arena took place. The last time a team match was scheduled for the stadium, on September 5, Anvisa agents entered the field after six minutes and interrupted the confrontation. Four players from Argentina (Emiliano Martínez, Emiliano Buendía, Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso) did not comply with the mandatory quarantine and could not play, according to the health agency.

Brazil’s first half was slow as the public entered the arena in Itaquera. Until about 30 minutes into the first half, new fans, delayed by traffic, occupied seats in the stadium, the lines to present proof of vaccination against Covid-19 and also to show the ticket.

In total, 22,080 people attended, a low audience. The arena’s capacity is 49 thousand.
With a lineup of five players, Colombia managed to block Brazilian plays during much of the initial stage. To try to pierce this marking, Tite sent Raphinha and Gabriel Jesus to act wide open at the ends.

But there was still a need to accelerate the touch of the ball. When that happened, the team entered the opponent’s area, who started betting on the most brutal game. Neymar claimed to have received an elbow from Cuadrado. Chilean referee Roberto Tobar did not see it that way and the VAR confirmed the decision.

To be more incisive on the sides, Tite changed the scheme. He put Vinicius Junior on the field in place of Fred. The steering wheel had already received a yellow card. Shortly afterwards, Antony entered, another name capable of incisive throws at the ends.

And if the team needed to speed up the pass, the goal came in a play of pure category between Marquinhos, Neymar and Lucas Paquetá. The first one recovered the ball, killing it in the chest, the number 10 shirt gave the attacking midfielder a first pass and sent Brazil, once again and as always, to the World Cup. And with the right to invasion of the fans field to celebrate.