Chile faces its toughest challenge yet in the World Cup qualifying fixtures, a crucial tournament for South American teams. The campaign has been difficult so far, with a 3-0 loss to Argentina and a narrow 1-2 defeat to Bolivia.
These defeats leave Chile 9th in the standings, just ahead of Peru due to goal difference. Now, Chile faces an even tougher challenge, with Brazil as their upcoming opponent.
Newly-appointed coach Ricardo Gareca has struggled to impress but responded to the Bolivia loss by making bold changes. This included dropping several veteran players, like Mauricio Isla and Gabriel Arias, signalling Gareca’s willingness to prioritize performance over reputation.
Ben Brereton Díaz has also been omitted after a slow start to his 24/25 season, while star player Alexis Sanchez remains sidelined due to injury.
Brazil face some challenges with key players like Vinicius Jr and Éder Militão sidelined due to injury. In Vinicius Jr.’s absence, Raphinha is expected to lead the attack, joined by Endrick and Rodrygo on the wings.
Brazil were expected to dominate their group, but a 1-0 loss to Paraguay has tempered those expectations.
Additionally, the unique atmosphere in South American stadiums makes every match a challenge. No opponent should be underestimated. In 2024, Brazil have struggled for consistency, frequently drawing games as they search for the right formula.
With the new 48-team World Cup format, CONMEBOL has two additional qualification spots, which theoretically makes the path to the tournament easier. However, the competitive nature of South American football means Brazil still can’t afford complacency.
Every match is crucial, and Brazil must make the most of their remaining fixtures to ensure a smooth qualification process, which will be further complicated by the absence of goalkeeper Alisson, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury for at least a month.
Bet hereThough Brazil has struggled since the 2022 World Cup, this match offers a chance to regain their form. Chile is one of the weakest opponents and it would be shocking to see Brazil unable to complete their task in Santiago.
The Chileans are undergoing several changes in the new era, and are unable to compete at the required level to qualify for the World Cup. While Brazil have struggled against top teams, they are expected to comfortably handle lower-ranked opponents like Chile.
Without Alexis Sanchez, the hosts will be toothless in the attack, much to the pleasure of Brazil.
One of the benefits of the absence of Vinicius Jr is that all three of Brazil’s attackers are coming to the national team in great form.
Raphinha has never been deadlier in front of the goal, whereas Rodrygo continues to perform well despite his limited playing time after Kylian Mbappé arrived.
Endrick isn’t quite the polished attacker, but his confidence has not taken a hit since he arrived at Real Madrid. Against a team like Chile, unable to defend its net, Endrick’s confidence could prove to be a useful asset in the form of long shots.
Brazil can also count on Bruno Guimarães in the midfield, which could help to overload the central channels.
Brazil remains the favourite despite failing to impress in recent months, and is expected to keep a clean sheet and Raphinha has a good chance to find the back of the net.
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