The Brazilian national team is back in action in the South American qualifiers for the World Cup. Starting at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) on Thursday (12), the team led by coach Fernando Diniz will face Venezuela at the Arena Pantanal, in Cuiabá, in the 3rd round of the competition.
After winning their first two matches in the tournament (5-1 against Bolivia and 1-0 against Peru), Brazil's aim is to pick up points that will allow them to remain at the top of the standings, which they currently share with Argentina (each with six points).
With a renewed squad of young and promising players such as Rodrygo, Bruno Guimarães and Vinícius Júnior, the Canarinho team has everything it takes to qualify for the next World Cup without any problems.
Even though he's only been in charge of the Brazilian national team for a short time, coach Fernando Diniz said at a press conference last Wednesday that he can already see his face in the national team: "In the main sense that it's my face, I think it is. In the first two games, he was committed and supportive. More than anything tactical, he has to be supportive, play together, score together".
For this match, the coach will have to do something he doesn't like: change parts of the team. Since he won't be able to count on full-back Renan Lodi and striker Raphinha, who are out through injury, he will give Guilherme Arana and Vinícius Júnior a chance in the starting line-up. As a result, Brazil should take to the field with: Éderson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães and Guilherme Arana; Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães; Neymar, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Richarlison.
Venezuela, meanwhile, are looking to spring a surprise and leave Cuiabá with a positive result. With three points in the table (won over Paraguay on matchday two), the Venezuelans are dreaming of a victory over the Brazilian side.
The Venezuelans are relying heavily on players familiar to Brazilian soccer: Soteldo and Rincón, who play for Santos, Ferraresi, from São Paulo, and Savarino and Otero, former Atlético-MG players.
National Radio broadcast
Rádio Nacional broadcasts Brazil and Venezuela with André Marques narrating, Waldir Luiz commentating, Mauricio Costa reporting and Bruno Mendes on duty. You can follow Show de Bola Nacional here:
* Collaboration by Pedro Dabes (trainee) under the supervision of Paulo Garritano.
