Brazil 1 Paraquay 0

....and with that Brazil virtually qualifies for WC 2026 with only two losses in the two remaining matches to the two weaker teams in Conmebol, Chile and Bolivia and Venezuela beating Argentina and Columbia sending them to the playoffs.

Ancelotti has established a strong defence and with the return of Raphina with Martinelli Cunha and Vini Jr, a fast paced attack fed by Bruno and Casemiro

They totally dominated possession and beat a team that was undefeated in 10 matches

ancelotti made a change to this match giving martelli a start at a different position that he does not usually play up front and overall i think they looked better. casemiro and bruno controlled the midfield gave it a flow and the defence looked good with marquinos in the back .i still say they are missing a genuine center forward

Not falling for that. Brazil is headed on the WI cricket path. Once flamboyant and dominant to a 2nd grade or worse franchise. Easy to see.

In reply to Curtis

Agree. Since the European started raiding the Brazil Soccer Academies and tutoring the tweeners to Teenagers European style defensive ball Brazil has not flourished. The self-creating, self-imaginative, samba, Jogo Bonito style ball playing has gone. The dull style mid fielders have replaced the Renaldino, Socrates, Falcao, Tostao, Zico, Leonardo, Rivaldo types and sit back and back pass you to death. Brazil used to be known as a team that attacks continually with superb speedy dazzling wingers who fed off those creative midfield players to advance the ball. It used to be said they don't know how to play defense (which was nonsense with Dunca, Carlos Alberto. Leo) - the misconception being that Brazil introduced the attacking wing backs to football ( Maicon, Cafu, Roberto Carlos) which you see adopted a lot today by Euro teams. They always outscored opponents so it never mattered. With todays youth drained away from the local scene at 10 to 16 years of age they become totally Europeanized in football philosophy and the individual imaginative style is taken away.
"
Socrates - " football should be a form of artistic expression, not just a competition ... and criticized prioritizing results over creativity in Brazilian football"

Tostão: "... lamented the loss of the strong midfield play characterized by dynamic exchanges of passes, ... a hallmark of past Brazilian teams."

Ronaldinho: ... expressed disappointment with the current state of Brazilian football, citing a lack of soul rather than the harmonious play of the pasand reliance on individual effort

In reply to Scar

Well said. Totally totally in agreement. The Soul of their game is no more.