With Neymar out, Antony and Raphinha are the highlights of the selection
After 10 matches, Brazil ended a game without a win in the qualifiers. The Brazilian and Colombian teams wereted many chances and drew 0-0, this Sunday, in Barranquilla, in a delayed match of the fifth round of the competition. Neymar returned to the team and did well in the first stage, but fell a lot in the second half.
Highlights against Venezuela, Raphinha and Antony again entered the second half well. The Leeds forward came on 15 minutes in, replacing Gabigol, and gave the opposing defense a headache with good individual plays. He has submitted two of the nine times in Brazil and crossed to Antony’s submission once. The Ajax forward came on at 25, replacing Gabriel Jesus, was on the left wing and had Brazil’s great chance in the second stage.
Despite the broken streak of victories, Brazil remains in the lead alone, with 28 points. It has one foot in the World Cup, as a score of 30 points practically defines the direct classification for the World Cup. Since the Qualifiers started to be played in this format, this was the highest score of a fourth place – Paraguay, in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.
Colombia has 15 points and is in fifth place, a position that would lead them to the recap. Next Thursday, the team faces Uruguay in Manaus, and the Colombians receive Ecuador, again in Barranquilla.
