Date: Sept 10th, 2024 Venue: Estádio Defensores del Cahco Second game of this WCQ round away at Paraguay who are 7th on the table with only 6 points. We did beat them 4 x 1 in the Copa America. Another win here gives us some breathing room although we all know it would take a disaster to not qualify. Dorival has been trying a new setup in attack in training with Vini, Endrick and Rodrygo on the right leaving Luis Henrique out. Paraguay from what I hear plays with 4 CBs. Against Uruguay away they played that way and held them to a scoreless draw. A couple of familiar faces in the back that play in Brazil are Gomez (Palmeiras) and Alonso (Atlético). Bobadilla (São Paulo) and Pitta (Cuiabá) also play in Brazil.
Based on Paraguay's gritty goalless draw at Uruguay, it's unlikely Brazil will win by a wide margin tonight. Paraguay is now managed by Gustavo Alfaro, Dorival Jr.'s long-lost twin and the manager who was in charge of Costa Rica when Brazil faced them and drew this summer. Alfaro is a solid manager who reads the game well, and he knew Uruguay was a superior opponent, at least offensively speaking. The result of his emphasis on defense was a precious away point. If he did this against Uruguay, he may do this against Brazil, even if his team is the host. A second consecutive win by Brazil would be a major morale lifter even as cohesion remains in dire need of improvement. Endrick will start, and if this contributes in a significant way to Brazil winning, it'll be a double-edged sword for Dorival: he may be in the position of finding one of the keys that unlocks a better Brazil, but he'll be bashed for not starting Endrick in earlier matches.
Starting Lineup: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Arana; André, BG, Paquetá; Vini Jr, Rodrygo, Endrick
Paraguay defending in a 4-4-2. So we should be able to work some width if Vini and Rodrygo get support.
15 mins in and all we've done is knock the ball around. No intelligent movement off the ball to create passing options.
Arana just made a good run on the wing wide open and the pass wasn't made. Just slow game situation recognition.
It's gonna look really bad for Dorival to say we'd be in the final of the WC and then go and lose to Paraguay.
Another ball that could have been played to Arana on the left that's ignored. You have to sue the space on the wing they give you.
Vini gets behind the defender in space but Arana doesn't put the ball over the top ... kind of pass he gets at Madrid.
I officially miss Fernando Diniz. We should have stuck with him but given him an ultimatum club vs NT.
Arana is providing width on the left and Vinicius is tucking in ... but the ball doesn't get played to Arana when he is wide open. WTF is the point then ?
Neither one or the other. I think Diniz would continue to be a disaster with his stupid system. CBF should have gone and should still go all out for Jorge Jesus.
Paraguay 1 x 0 Brasil - HT I honestly expected more. Paraguay didn't really threaten. But they found a goal off a bad clearance. We had one good chance that was cleared off the line.
I'm not going to lie, I was and still am a bit apprehensive about a foreign manager. But at this point beggars can't be choosers. Jorge Jesus would be a solid choice.
We've had some tough matches at the Defensores del Chaco. I remember better teams getting beat here ... or just pulling off a draw in some dire games. We lost in 2000, drew in 2004, lost in 2008 ... but this Paraguay, even if better coached than in the CA, shouldn't be much of a problem to create scoring chances against.
Sadly, probably still the best Brazilian coach for the NT. But I am afraid he was probably broken mentally after 2022. Don't think he could have carried on even if given a chance. I've kind of cooled on him too based on those dire press conferences and his French Exits after losses. I'd really go strong after JJ. He knows the culture and at least tries to play differently.
I don't. Sorry but 2022 was unforgivable to me and he had some really hard-headed traits I can't get over. I can't go through the highs of dominating qualifiers then devastating exits at the WC.
Good play from João Pedro. Puts Rodrygo through who amazingly puts the ball way over the bar. Maybe the ball took a hop right when he took the shot.