vs. Location: Arena Vivaldo Palma Lima (Arena da Amazônia) Brazil roster: Goleiros: Alisson, Éderson, Weverton Laterais: Danilo, Emerson, Alex Sandro, Guilherme Arana Zagueiros: Eder Militão, Lucas Veríssimo, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva Meio-campistas: Casemiro, Edenílson, Everton Ribeiro, Fabinho, Fred, Gerson, Lucas Paquetá Atacantes: Antony, Gabigol, Gabriel Jesus, Matheus Cunha, Neymar, Raphinha, Vinicius Júnior With 4 points after 2 away matches in nearby Venezuela and Colombia, the Brazilian National Team returns to home ground to face an age-old opponent in the city of Manaus. Uruguay - who for better or for worse will forever be part of the folklore of Brazilian football - visits Brazil after a home draw vs. Colombia and a 0-3 defeat at Argentina. And while its current 4th place ranking grants it a direct berth at Qatar 2022, this is not the final ranking, and Uruguay has no room for relaxation. Its last win was a 1-0 home win vs. Ecuador in September, and with the competitive character of this current WCQ (where only top-ranked Brazil and runner-up Argentina appear guaranteed to reach the 2022 World Cup), every point will count. And they will fight hard against Brazil to ensure they salvage at the very least one point - however, following a draw in Barranquilla, Tite's Brazil has all the more reason to return to its winning ways. The current WCQ and a potential participation in the 2022 World Cup will likely mark the end of an era for this Uruguay. Its manager, Óscar Washington Tabárez Silva, has been on the job since the faraway year of 2006 (after an initial stint from 1988 to 1990). Under "The Maestro's" guidance, Uruguay revamped its system with Proceso de Institucionalización de Selecciones y la Formación de sus Futbolistas" (Process of National Teams' Institutionalization and Players' Growth) - "The Proceso." The results were Uruguay's return to the World Cup in 2010 (after the 2006 absence) and a participation in 2014 and in 2018. During this time, Uruguay reached the World Cup semifinals (2010), the Olympics (for the first time since 1928), and of course, the 2011 Copa América title. Tabárez will leave the job with much respect and gratitude, not only from his compatriots but from all lovers of football. I personally was very touched when I saw him, holding a cane, struggling to stand from the bench to celebrate his team's last-minute victory goal against Egypt in 2018. The elderly Tabárez suffers from Guillain-Barré syndrome, which results in muscle weakness as the immune system damages the peripheral nervous system. To see a man of his age and with that condition stay at the job, travel to a faraway country, and to do what he could physically to rejoice as his team won was far more exciting than any goal. In all likelihood, as well, this cycle will seal the end of the NT careers of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez, mainstays of the Tabárez era who with their manager celebrated continental glory in Argentina in 2011. Tabárez will need to replace Rodrigo Bentancur, who will be suspended, as well as the injured José María Giménez and Giorgian de Arrascaeta (the latter player has become a hero at Flamengo). Brazil's 9-win streak in WCQ was interrupted by the Colombians. While Brazil overall played better than it did against Venezuela, Brazil struggled in at because Neymar - absent in Caracas - returned for the next match. Neymar missed many passes and looked lethargic, although in fairness, Neymar more than once set up teammates to score - and they didn't get it done. The moment is somewhat strange for Brazil. A 10-match unbeaten streak in WCQ (and for this manager, Tite, it is his second 9-match winning streak in WCQ). As he did en route to Russia 2018, he has led Brazil to first place in CONMEBOL WCQ's league table to the extent it is strange when Brazil does not win. Other teams are nowhere near this winning percentage and effectiveness. Yet, Brazil has been criticized as of late by former players, sports journalists, and many fans for poor play. There have admittedly been bad moments, such as in the first half against Chile, the first half against Venezuela, and the inability to score against Colombia. This is arguably part and parcel for Brazil's NT; criticism, expectations, and demand are impossible to satisfy. The 1994 team broke a 24-year World Cup title drought - yet it was met with derision during WCQ and even after it arrived in Brazil with the trophy. Tite, ever the detail-oriented manager and planner, is aware both of the performance by the team and of the reaction from those outside the team/delegation. In defense of his work and of his team, Tite stated that the two last matches are not proof the team is out of sync, but rather, pointed to the current cycle as different from the cycle for Russia 2018 - and that the current cycle is less stable. Tite further pointed to his time as a club manager, during which he led Corinthians to the 2012 Libertadores ("what if I'd succumbed to criticism before the team won it?") and pointed to the renovation of the roster ("it's now time to take opportunity of Raphinha, Antony, Emerson, Veríssimo, Arana...). Tite has been criticized ad infinitum for not changing the team and for stubbornly adhering to his "trusted men." However, today, Neymar will start alongside the recently criticized Gabriel Jesus, whose contributions to NT success are a bit less recent: 2016 Olympic Gold, top scorer for Brazil in 2018 WCQ (7 goals), 2 goals in the victorious 2019 Copa América. And, at the ponta-direita, the starting player will be Raphinha, who entered as a sub against Venezuela and Colombia and whose aggressive, bold, and quick play changed the matches in Brazil's favor. As a result, Gabigol will be on the bench. A classic Brazilian saying: "reclamando de barriga cheia" (complaining on a full stomach) is used to talk about people who grumble when things are going well for them. Perhaps that's what Brazilian journalists, ex-players, and fans are doing; Tabárez stated days ago that "Brazil has the best defense in WCQ by far... maybe it wasn't that steamrolling Brazil, but later they solved it.... they faced, against Colombia, a goalkeeper (Ospina) who defended just as much if not more as he did against us... this is a very difficult team and from all possible points, it relinquished only two.... from the defensive point of view, it is the best team in WCQ by far... during the Tite era, things haven't gone too well for us, but it's something all teams have experienced; not only have we not been able to defeat Brazil, but this is a highly qualified opponent." Brazil vs. Uruguay has for decades been a classic in South America, but in recent times, Brazil has overcome the once seemingly indestructible aura of invincibility Uruguay had playing at home. From 1916 to 1976, Brazil won in Montevideo three times: in a friendly on July 18, 1916 (0-1); in a Copa Rio Branco match on December 4, 1932 (1-2); and, in a Copa Rio Branco 1976/Taça do Atlântico 1976 match on February 25, 1976. In other words, Brazil did not win in Uruguay even when Pelé, Garrincha, Zico, Falcão, Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho were playing. This, however, has changed dramatically. Brazil defeated Uruguay in Montevideo on the last three times they played in WCQ: a 0-4 goleada on June 6, 2009; a 1-4 goleada on March 23, 2017; and, a 0-2 win on November 17, 2020. Uruguay in contrast has never defeated Brazil in Brazil for WCQ (no team ever has) and its last victory in Brazil was a friendly in Campina Grande (1-2) on November 25, 1992. In fact, the last time Uruguay won an official match in Brazil was in...... 1950. Another notable aspect about tonight's match is the fact that after 830 days, Brazil will play with fans in the stands: about 10,000 fans will be allowed to watch the match in person. The following were the starting XI deployed by "El Maestro" Tabárez in his team's 0-3 defeat at Argentina on October 10, 2021: Fernando Muslera; Nahitan Nández, Ronald Araujo, Diego Godín, Sebastián Coates, Matías Viña; Federico Valverde, Matías Vecino, Nicolás de la Cruz, Brian Rodríguez, Luis Suárez. The following is the expected starting XI for Uruguay tonight: Fernando Muslera; Nahitan Nández, Sebastián Coates, Diego Godín and Joaquín Piquerez; Federico Valverde, Matías Vecino and Rodrigo Bentancur; Nicolás de la Cruz; Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani. Brazil is expected to start the match with: Éderson; Emerson, Lucas Veríssimo, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro; Fabinho, Fred, Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá; Gabriel Jesus, Neymar.
Neymar with a shot from outside the box. Not too dangerous but on target. This is the attitude Brazil needs to show.
Esse Raphinha é abusado. If we can get him in isolation situations deep in the wing it will pay dividends. And he scores ! 2 x 0
Nice reward for Raphinha after earning the starting role. I wonder if Gabriel Jesus will lose his starting spot with Neymar playing centrally with Gabigol or Matheus Cunha in November (or with Vini on the left and Raphinha on the right if we play 4-3-3)
Great half ... even if Uruguay are basically dead. They've regressed by quite a bit. Could have scored at least one more goal. If Raphinha stays like this , he is a sure starter next year. No ifs and buts. Changed the whole team with his presence. Only thing is that he is not a goal scorer and we need somebody up front other than Neymar to contribute goals.
Would love to see Gabriel Jesus out at half time, either Vini Jr. or Antony would be fine. Playing time for Arana would be good too. With Richarlison possibly back in November I could see him starting up front with Raphinha and Neymar.
Great half indeed. The best 45 minutes Brazil has played in a very long time. And against a strong opponent. Let's hope Brazil doesn't get too comfortable in the second half.
Jesus with a shot from outside the box right at the GK. Would like to see him get a goal to see if it gets him going. I do think he can work in this system.