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Brazil rescued thanks to unknown duo
Even without Neymar and Vinicius Junior, Brazil is back in World Cup qualifying. Two largely unknown newcomers save the record world champion.
Luiz Henrique scores the decisive goal for Brazil
© IMAGO/Photosport
Even without Neymar and Vinicius Junior, Brazil is back in World Cup qualifying. Two largely unknown newcomers save the record world champion.
World record soccer champions Brazil prevented another crash in the South American qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals with an arduous 2-1 (1-1) win in Chile. At halftime of the Eliminatorias, the Selecao are now in fourth place. But with only a three-point lead in eighth place, the fight for one of the six continental World Cup tickets remains a tough game.
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Meanwhile, Bolivia is emerging as a serious competitor, inflicting its first defeat on Colombia at 4,150 meters high in El Alto with a 1-0 (0-0). World and South American champions Argentina are moving further ahead in the ten-team qualification after a 1-1 (1-0) draw in Venezuela. Ecuador played on the spot with a zero against Paraguay, so that Uruguay could jump to second place with a win in Peru at the end of the day’s play on Saturday night.
Nobody in Europe knows them: They are Brazil’s saviors
In the Estadio Nacional in Santiago de Chile, former Hoffenheim player Eduardo Vargas caused a cold shower with the early opening goal after just 72 seconds. Without the long-term injured Neymar and the short-term absence Vinicius Junior, two strikers playing at home took the chestnuts out of the fire for Brazil.
Igor Jesus (45th + 1) almost equalized with the half-time whistle on his international debut, Luiz Henrique (89th) scored the winning goal shortly before the end in only his third game. The two rescuers, who are largely unknown in Europe, play for league leaders Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro.
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“In two years we will come to the tournament with a strong team,” promised national coach Dorival Junior after the game, but admitted: “We are currently going through difficult moments.” And winning goal scorer Luiz Henrique also spoke “of the first step with this Success”.
