Hello friends, good vibes to all.
In other times taking points from the almighty Brazil was a reason to rejoice, it was a feat in the country that the Vinotinto could do such a thing and if we add to that that they did it in both games of the qualifiers, it was even more incredible. Today that is not so or at least for me, this selection is not the same of the 90's or early 2000's where the entire southern cone of the continent saw us as the Cinderella, the easy points of the qualifiers; that for a few years now has changed radically and how that has been so the obligation and demand towards the team has also done so. On Thursday Venezuela had to win to go “calm” to Chile and because the urgency of points is important.
It was not like that, the team coached by Leandro Cufré (Bocha was suspended) only managed a draw against a Brazil that is not even the shadow of what it once was. “But we scored at home and that is always good”, they are right and even more so against Brazil, but with this draw something in particular happens: it will only be useful if they beat Chile tomorrow. If this happens, we will finish the day with 4 points and we will still be in the fight for the playoffs. And this is another detail to consider. Our fight has to be for the lower places, that is to say, for the sixth or even the seventh place because the fifth place is already far away (Ecuador with 16 points). We have to be realistic and understand that our options are in those places.
Against Brazil it was a much more even game in the second half than in the first, as has become customary in this national team. I feel that Murillo played a good game while he was on the field, very participative on his flank; Savarino finally showed what he always shows in Botafogo, one of the winger's best games with the national team and the defensive saga also had to be said that it remained tidy in almost the entire match. Raphinha's goal was inevitable, a splendidly taken free kick two minutes before the end of the first half. Brazil was more than Venezuela in those first 45 minutes but the face changed in the second half.
Telasco Segovia in the first one he touched deposited it in the back of the net, a great goal assisted by Savarino. This balanced the scales, not that Brazil did much, they had the ball but they were not incisive. It was a very rough match in which the home advantage once again played its part with the sprinklers, Maturin is a fortress for the Vinotinto and it was necessary to keep it that way. Bad news: Yangel Herrera's injury, Brujo Martínez's blow, Casseres Jr.'s yellow card and Alexander González's expulsion. An expulsion given by Vinicius, a player who is a crack but who in the same measure is really unbearable. Three very sensitive casualties for tomorrow. The good news? - Brujo is not serious but I assume he will not be at 100% and the return of Soteldo.
Tomorrow in Santiago we will be with a midfield that is not ready for 90 minutes due to an age issue, El Brujo will not be at full capacity. That is why they called a veteran, Maurice Cova, 32 years old, from Deportivo Tachira, to support that position of 5. Cova has never made his debut with the senior team, no doubt it will be interesting to see him since he is one of the best in the national league. I think we have enough team to get the three points, it's time for Segovia, Bello, we'll see if Kervin Andrade does something. Machis did not play against Brazil, I guess because of the storm in Paraguay but I think that tomorrow he will see minutes because of the need and the casualties.
As I said last week, I had no expectations against Brazil due to the soccer reality of the national team and that Brazil can always complicate things, but against Chile it is different. It is a team that is not doing well at all, it is going through a complicated process of replacement so getting those 3 points is very feasible. This team has already been beaten 3-0, so maybe they are hurt and want “revenge”. We must also consider the atmosphere regarding the public, beyond the purely sporting issue, the situation between Venezuelans and Chileans is complicated, unfortunately, so it will undoubtedly influence the development of the match. I am not confident but with minimal possibilities.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos leemos en la próxima!
Well my people that's all for today, I hope you liked it.
¡Hugs to all, see you next time!
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