Focused on fine-tuning details for Catar-2022, for which it is already qualified, Brazil can define this Thursday in Maracana the destination of Chile, which needs to add whatever it takes to keep the world cup dream alive.
With Neymar back, although dragging criticism for PSG's bad hour, the 'Seleção' can claim the second consecutive absence of La Roja to a World Cup, after that of Russia-2018, and the burial of the golden generation of Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal.
The Chileans, sixth with 19 points, two points behind the playoff and three from the last place in direct qualifying, need the impossible to arrive with good chances on Tuesday to the last date: to beat Brazil, which has never lost at home by South American qualifying.
In the legendary Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, from 8:30pm local time (23h30 GMT), the undefeated leader (39 points in 15 games) will once again dress as an executioner against a rival who refuses to be convicted.
- New offensive -
Out due to injury in the previous double date (1-1 with Ecuador, 4-0 win against Paraguay), Neymar is back... and, once again, with a cloud chasing him.
The '10' is one of the main targets of the fans and the French press due to the elimination of PSG in the second round of the Champions League against Real Madrid and a low note game in Ligue 1, which however his team leads.
Accustomed to tucking him in, Tite and his team defend their main figure, of great value in the search for the sixth world title: second gunner (7) and main assist (8) of the qualifier.
“When I have Neymar by my side, I feel much stronger, as do my teammates. And he feels the same way too,” said Lucas Paquetá, creative partner of 'Ney'.
Without him, the 'scratch' remained undefeated, although he missed his magic, despite the fact that the young blood of Brazil has given Tite new weapons on the offensive.
Faced with Raphinha's covid-19 discharge, Antony and Vinicius Jr would be starters with Neymar in the attack.
“We are preparing for the World Cup, we are going to face it as a great game,” said Antony, winger of Dutch Ajax.
- All or nothing -
When it was beginning to mold itself, at the World Cup in South Africa-2010, the then coach of Spain, Vicente del Bosque, compared the Chilean golden generation to “kamikazes” because of their dedication and craft.
Those characteristics will be necessary in the Maracaná so that the litter that won two Copas América (2015, 2016) has options to fly again.
“We are clear that we cannot play a timorous match because of the need we have,” said coach Martín Lasarte.
If it wins, Chile enters the minimum in the repechage zone and its luck is played against Uruguay (fourth, with 22 units) on Tuesday in Santiago. By drawing or losing, he would be dying, according to the other results.
To achieve the feat, La Roja has had bittersweet news with four headlines.
Vidal returns after serving a two-date sanction. But the defender Guillermo Maripán and the revelation attacker, Ben Brereton, are between cottons and the steering wheel Erick Pulgar is low due to covid-19.
“There is a very thin line between possibilities and suicide, so we have to see and do our best,” Lasarte said.
Possible lineups:
Brazil: Alisson - Danilo, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Guilherme Arana - Casemiro, Fred, Lucas Paquetá - Antony, Neymar, Vinicius Jr. DT: Tite.
Chile: Claudio Bravo - Mauricio Isla, Paulo Diaz, Gary Medel, Enzo Roco, Gabriel Suazo - Claudio Baeza, Charles Aranguiz, Arturo Vidal - Eduardo Vargas, Alexis Sanchez. DT: Martin Lasarte.
Referees: Argentinian Darío Herrera and his compatriots Gabriel Chade and Facundo Rodríguez in the bands.
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