📹 Chasing a sixth star: Brazil beat Paraguay to book 2026 World Cup spot | OneFootball

The Brazilian National Team defeated World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, with two rounds to spare in the South American Qualifiers.

Overall, Brazil showed improvement compared to what had been seen over the past two and a half years.

Intensity, close combinations for quick es, and high, firm pressing were some of the characteristics the National Team displayed in Itaquera.

⚽ The Match

In his debut commanding the National Team on home soil, Carlo Ancelotti was honored by the Brazilian fans with a "congratulations" mosaic for his 66th birthday.

With the ball rolling, Brazil imposed themselves on the field, even though their dominance was not translating into real goal-scoring chances.

In the first half, Matheus Cunha—alone in the six-yard box—managed to do the "impossible" and headed the ball completely off target.

But the new Manchester United striker redeemed himself still in the first half and provided the assist for Vini Jr to score the National Team’s first goal in the "Ancelotti era".

The sad note of the first half was precisely the yellow card for Vini Jr, which rules him out of the National Team’s next match, against already eliminated Chile, in September.

After the break, the Brazilian National Team came back even more eager to score a second goal.

With a lot of effort to make up for the lack of chemistry and the shortcomings caused by the tactical changes planned by the fourth coach in two and a half years (Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz, and Dorival Jr. previously), Brazil played very well up to the middle of the second half.

Cáceres even cleared the ball off the line after Bruno Guimarães lobbed it over Gatito Fernández.

After the halfway point of the second half, the National Team slowed down, and Paraguay grew into the game, even giving Alisson a few scares.

But the scoreline did not change in Itaquera, and Ancelotti secured his first victory with the Brazilian National Team, which guaranteed their spot in the 2026 World Cup.

🚦 What Now

With the win, World Cup.

Venezuela, in seventh place, has only 18 points and can no longer overtake the National Team.

Thus, history repeats itself! World Cup since 1930.

In their 23rd World Cup, the National Team will be looking to end a drought that has lasted since 2002 and to win the long-awaited sixth title.

The Brazilian National Team will wrap up their participation in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in September, when they host Chile on the 4th and visit Bolivia on the 9th.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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