Record champion Brazil has never had such a bad start to a World Cup qualification campaign. Now they are even in danger of missing the upcoming tournament.
It’s the World Cup and Brazil is just watching idly from Sugarloaf Mountain? Actually unthinkable. But after the 0:1 (0:1) defeat in Paraguay, the fourth defeat in the eighth qualifying match for the 2026 finals, the horror scenario can no longer be ruled out. Frustrated, tormented and beaten, the once proud Selecao staggered almost disorientated across the pitch after the final whistle in the Estadio Defensor del Chaco in Asuncion.
And because the record world champions, who have never missed a World Cup final, didn’t know what to do with over 70 percent possession, the only thing they were left with was a confession of failure. “From then on, the game was practically over,” admitted late substitute Lucas Moura. He was referring to the early goal conceded in the 20th minute. And the unimaginative approach that followed.
“Everything we could say now would be just excuses, words without value. Winning the games would be the best answer now,” said central defender Marquinhos, admitting: “We don’t have much confidence right now.”
The heirs of Pele, Zico, Ronaldo and Romario obviously don’t know what to do with the ball anymore. In the first 45 minutes, the team around Vinicius Junior, Endrick and Rodrygo, all well-paid strikers at Champions League record winners Real Madrid, only managed one shot on goal – by left-back Guilherme Arana. Paraguay, on the other hand, took advantage of its first chance when Diego Gomez scored a spectacular goal with the outside of his foot from the edge of the penalty area.
Although it was only the second defeat under Dorival Júnior in his tenth game as national coach since January, the negative experiences, like the quarter-final exit a few weeks ago at the Copa América, are piling up. Slow passing, no connection between midfield and strikers, many individual actions that fizzle out into nothing – the Selecao 2024 is only a shadow of its former self.
In the current Eliminatorias, they have already suffered their first defeat after 64 unbeaten home games. It ended an impressive series of 37 Eliminatorias games without defeat, the Selecao lost three World Cup qualifiers in a row, lost to Uruguay for the first time in 22 years and now to Paraguay for the first time in 16 years.
The number one in terms of World Cup titles (five) is currently only fifth on the continent and would currently be one of six South Americans who qualified directly thanks to the upcoming World Cup being expanded to 48 teams. But Venezuela also has ten points, with Paraguay and Bolivia within striking distance, one point behind.
Savior Neymar, on the other hand, seems like a mirage in the far distance. The 32-year-old is still not training on the ball eleven months after his serious injury (torn cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee) with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. “We have to wait and see,” Dorival said, briefly answering questions after the game.
At least there is a rebuilding programme on the next double matchday in mid-October: with the away game against second-to-last Chile and the home game against Peru, who are still winless after eight matches. Further defeats would be a declaration of bankruptcy for the “Canarinhos”, who looked strangely pale in their yellow shirts today.
