With the place already guaranteed at the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian team says goodbye to the qualifiers on Tuesday (9), at 20:30 (Brasília time), at the altitude of El Alto, Bolivia, with coach Carlo Ancelotti making a series of changes in the team to get to know the group of players better.
Second place in the classification table, with 28 points, Brazil can no longer reach the Argentine leader, which adds 38.
In 17 matches in the qualifiers so far, the Brazilian team had eight wins, four draws and five losses, with 24 goals scored and 16 conceded.
If the confrontation against Bolivia at El Alto Municipal Stadium is overcome 4.150 meters above sea level, the team will amend the third victory followed for the first time in the qualifier, after triumphs against Chile and Paraguay, ensuring second place – a much better result than the sequence of poor results during the tournament.
In case of a tie, it can be exceeded if Uruguay beats Chile. If you lose, Ecuador, Colombia and Paraguay – all already classified – they can also pass ahead.
In the last training at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis, before boarding for Bolivia, Ancelotti climbed a starting team with Alisson and Bruno Guimarães among the eleven players who started in the 3-0 win against Chile.
Andrey Santos should take the place of Casemiro, suspended by the third yellow card.
“There is no Brazilian player who has the same feature as Casemiro, but there are some who can play in this position, with different characteristics,” said Ancelotti, citing Chelsea steering wheel, as well as Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá, a trio that should start in midfield against Bolivia.
Vitinho and Caio Henrique were tested on the sides and can receive a chance, with Fabrício Bruno and Alex appearing in the defender. In the attack, Luiz Henrique, who came in well against Chile, should form the trio with rookie Samuel Lino and Richarlison by center forward.
“The idea I have is to change a little. We are evaluating the tiredness of the players. We have to consider that there is a component that we have to evaluate [altitude]and this can change the strategy of the game, obviously. I am looking for information with players who have already worked in these conditions, “said Ancelotti.
He added that even though he was sending more rested players to the field, the team cannot seek against Bolivia to repeat the same rhythm and intensity imposed against the Chileans.
“We have to play differently from the game against Chile. It was a game with great intensity, with a lot of pressure. This in altitude can not be done.”
In his fourth confrontation ahead of the national team, with two wins and a draw so far, Ancelotti said he was pleased with the posture demonstrated by players in training and matches.
“Brazilian players have a lot of talent. The key to success is more attitude talent,” said the coach. “What I liked most about these three games was the team’s attitude. The attitude was, in my opinion, very high. This is an important basis of the future of the national team.”
It will be the fifth match of the Bolivian team in El Alto in the qualifiers. Invicta playing in the city, Bolivia won wins against Colombia, Chile and Venezuela, and tied with Paraguay and Uruguay.
Eight in the classification table, with 17 points, the country still has a chance to qualify for the World Cup.
To return to the World Cup after the last participation in 1994, the team must beat Brazil and cheer for Venezuela, seventh placed with 18 points – and currently with the place for recap – not to win Colombia.
The main hope of goals of the Bolivian team is the 21 -year -old striker Miguelito. Santos athlete who is currently loaned to América-MG, Miguelito is the third in the artillery of the qualifiers, with six goals, behind Luis Díaz, with seven, and Messi, with eight.
In the retrospective, the Brazilian team has wide favoritism. There are 33 clashes, with 24 wins from Brazil, five from Bolivia and four draws.
Playing in Bolivian territory, in ten matches, there are four wins for each side, and two draws.
Bolivia x Brazil
Competition: World Cup qualifiers
Local: El Alto Municipal Stadium, in El Alto
Time: 8:30 pm (from Brasilia)
Arbitrator: Cristian Garay (CHL)
Transmission: Globo, SporTV and GE TV
Brazil: Alisson; Vitinho, Fabrício Bruno, Alex and Caio Henrique; Andrey Santos, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá; Luiz Henrique, Samuel Lino and Richarlison
Technical: Carlo Ancelotti
Bolivia: Lampe; Diego Medina, Hachin, Morales and Roberto Fernández; Villamil, Ervin Vaca, Robson Matheus and José Sagredo; Miguelito and Moses Paniagua
Technical: Óscar Villegas
