Brazil face Uruguay in their 5th CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier in Recife tonight, with points very much the mission. The Seleção have had a mixed start to their campaign, sitting 3rd in the qualifying group. That said, they have already negotiated two of their toughest fixtures, in Santiago (where they lost to Chile) and Buenos Aires (where they drew with Argentina).
They take on Uruguay in front of another Nordeste crowd. Brazil have tried to make the Northeast their powerbase for the qualifiers, with games against Peru and Venezuela played in Salvador and Fortaleza respectively. Brazil might argue that, having played a series of friendlies around the globe between 2012-2014, that they are trying to reconnect with an increasingly disaffected public and create a home atmosphere.
Cynics might argue that the hot, dry conditions in the northeast give them an advantage over Uruguay certainly, who border the south of Brazil, where conditions are more temperate. Uruguay lobbied to have the match moved citing the weather, to no avail. Brazil will see the next two games against Uruguay and Paraguay as a good chance for six points, to really get the wheels moving on their qualification campaign.
However, Uruguay will be no pushover. They sit second in CONMEBOL qualifying and welcome Luis Suarez back for his first appearance in nearly two years, following a nine match ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup. The match will be billed as a Neymar and Suarez shootout, with the two Barcelona teammates facing off. Yet Uruguay offer plenty of goal threat besides Suarez, having already beaten Chile and Colombia 3-0 during qualifying.
It is in defence where Uruguay have issues, with Diego Godin and Maria Gimenez injured and Maxi Pereira suspended. Brazil are likely to field their go to front three of Willian and Douglas Costa flanking Neymar in a false 9 role. Prior to his squad announcement, Dunga suggested there would be little change in his selection with the South American season on hiatus over the Christmas and New Year period.
That means that Renato Augusto and Lucas Lima could play ahead of Luiz Gustavo in midfield. Alex Sandro and Fabinho are challenging Filipe Luis and Dani Alves for the full-back positions. It’s likely to be a cagey game in Recife, Uruguay would certainly consider a draw a very good result, Brazil less so. The impetus will be on the hosts to take the game to Uruguay. Given the injuries in their defence, Dunga will look upon this as a good chance to beat La Celeste.
Predicted line up: 1.ALISSON, 15.DANI ALVES, 4.DAVID LUIZ, 3.MIRANDA, 14.FILIPE LUIS, 17.LUIZ GUSTAVO, 18.RENATO AUGUSTO, 20.LUCAS LIMA, 19.WILLIAN, 7.DOUGLAS COSTA, 10.NEYMAR (c).
Score prediction: Brazil 2 – 1 Uruguay
