With no need for Neymar, Brazil maintained its lead at the top of the World Cup qualifiers to which it has already been invited, crushing Paraguay 4-0 on Tuesday, whose hopes of playing in Qatar were mathematically buried.
Raphinha, Philippe Coutinho, Antony and Rodrygo scored the goals for the Verdeamarela team, which was without Neymar due to injury and took advantage of a game of mere formality at the Mineirao to try out other players.
Paraguay ranks second to last in South America
That was enough to shake up a Paraguayan team that was sunk to the penultimate place in the qualifying round with 13 points.
Brazil is looking down on everyone with 39 points and its ticket to the World Cup duly sealed.
South America has four direct spots in the World Cup. The fifth position will play an international playoff against an Asian team for a berth.
Chile remained in with a chance
Earlier, Chile beat Bolivia 3-2 in the altitude of La Paz thanks to two goals by Alexis Sánchez and another by Marcelino Núñez. The result kept the Chileans in contention in sixth place with 19 points and nearly ended the chances of the hosts, who remain with 15 points. The Bolivian goals came from Marc Enoumba and Marcelo Martins.
“This was a reward to our efforts, but it doesn’t finish here,” Chile striker Sánchez said.
Chile’s final challenges will be at Brazil and home against Uruguay.
The Uruguayans gave new coach Diego Alonso his second consecutive win on the job – a 4-1 hammering of Venezuela. Rodrigo Betancur, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez all scored for Uruguay. Venezuela’s only goal was from Josef Martinez.
