Brazil journey to Santiago on Thursday night time to confront Chile in a crucial CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Pressure is mounting on supervisor Dorival Junior, who has been on the helm for lower than a yr, because the Selecao discover themselves vulnerable to lacking out on the World Cup for the primary time in historical past.
While the Samba Boys haven’t but hit a full-blown disaster, the stakes are excessive; a disappointing October may ship shock waves all through the nation.
The five-time World Cup champions have participated in each event for the reason that World Cup’s inception in 1930, however their possibilities of reaching the 2026 finals at the moment are in jeopardy, even with the event increasing to 48 groups and CONMEBOL receiving two further automated qualifying spots.
Currently, Brazil sit precariously exterior the highest six, a place that has them weak to elimination.
With simply 10 factors from eight matches, they’re stage with Venezuela and just one level forward of Paraguay and Bolivia.
Notably, Paraguay handed Brazil a defeat on matchday eight final month.
Adding to the priority, Brazil have suffered losses towards the present prime three groups, leading to solely two victories of their final 9 aggressive outings.
The Selecao additionally confronted elimination within the quarter-finals of the Copa America over the summer time.
As Brazil prepares to face Chile – presently mired in disaster – their historic dominance suggests a positive end result.
Brazil have misplaced solely one among their final 19 encounters towards South American La Roja, and Chile’s kind factors to extra struggles.
Since the appointment of Ricardo Gareca, the Chilean nationwide workforce has seen little enchancment.
Once the proud winners of back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, Chile exited the final Copa America with out scoring a single purpose, and Gareca’s first qualifier resulted in a 3-0 defeat to Argentina.
The embarrassment continued as Chile turned the primary workforce in 67 matches to lose a house qualifier towards Bolivia.
Their solely victory on this qualifying cycle got here towards Peru, the one workforce under them within the standings.
Currently, La Roja sit in ninth place with a mere 5 factors, and with out vital enchancment, they threat lacking the finals for a 3rd consecutive time – an end result unimaginable after their sturdy 2014 World Cup run.
In response to their dismal performances, Gareca has made sweeping modifications to the squad.
Veterans Mauricio Isla and Gabriel Arias have been dropped, whereas Ben Brereton Diaz’s poor kind has additionally seen him omitted.
Chile might be with out star participant Alexis Sanchez, who’s sidelined with an harm, alongside Matias Catalan and Vicente Pizarro.
Brazil, however, might be with out key goalkeeper Alisson, who suffered a hamstring harm throughout Liverpool’s current victory over Crystal Palace.
This paves the way in which for Ederson to earn his twenty sixth cap.
The Selecao may also miss Vinicius Junior because of a minor neck harm, which fragments the Real Madrid entrance three, leaving Raphinha, Rodrygo and Endrick to guide the assault.
Defensively, Brazil face their very own harm challenges, with Bremer, Eder Militao, and Guilherme Arana all sidelined. Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes is poised to make his tenth look for the nationwide workforce.
Source: www.dailysabah.com