2022 World Qualifiers: Brazil and Neymar falter in Colombia but approach Qatar

End of the series, without unfortunate consequences: Brazil conceded a 0-0 draw in Colombia after nine victories in as many qualifying matches at the 2022 World Cup, whose ticket is almost in the pocket.

La Seleçao, where Neymar was back after serving a suspension Thursday in Venezuela (3-1), remains a strong leader, with 28 points, six ahead of his first pursuer, Argentina, who crushed the Uruguay (3-0) a little later this Sunday evening.

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Tite's team is above all 13 lengths ahead of their opponent of the day, Colombia, ranked 5th. However, the first four of the South American single pool will qualify directly for the World Cup in Qatar, and it now seems highly unlikely that Brazil will finish 6th or even 5th. Neymar, aligned alongside two little-visible Gabriel (Barbosa and Jesus), has been at the heart of most Brazilian offensives - he was also the only one to succeed in piercing the Colombian block made of two lines narrowed by four players.

The Parisian leader stood out from the start by pushing David Ospina to the parade, then quarter of an hour of play gave the central hinge dizzy to alert in the penalty area Paqueta, which spoiled the 'offering.

He also sent a dangerous center back that defensive midfielder Fred harvested by shooting over the bar (33rd).

“Neymar has been good as a team leader,” Tite said, adding that his No. 10 had been “very well scored” by the Colombian defense.

“Last World Cup” for Neymar?

The PSG superstar was then assisted by the young Raphinha and Antony, entered in the 61st and 71st minutes, who also made the Colombian goalkeeper shine, with two strikes from the left (77th and 84th). "Ney" had caused a sensation earlier Sunday, but off the field, in an interview with the DAZN media where he said that it would undoubtedly be in Qatar his "last World Cup. I play it like the last one because I don't know if I will still have the condition, the mental, to support even more football ”.

The Cafeteros, stifled in the first period, straightened their heads after the break, encouraged by their 30,000 supporters, and Matheus Uribe, after a combination with Radamel Falcao, saw his shot knocked out by Alisson at the hour of play, a few minutes before the attempt of Juan Fernando Quintero rejected by the same goalkeeper.

"Playing against a team like Colombia is different from other matches (...) they have more play, more technical skills than the other teams," said Tite after the game.

Colombia, who can boast of being the first to avoid defeat to Brazil, remain 5th, one point behind Uruguay and Ecuador, who performed a bad operation losing 2-1 to Venezuela.

Thursday's Colombia-Ecuador can be a turning point for these two teams.