LITTLE LEFT! FLAMENGO CAST REPRESENTS THIS MONDAY FOR TRAINING WITH A FOCUS ON CARIOCA'S FIRST FINAL AGAINST NOVA IGUAÇU

Bolivia showed superiority in the first half and built its victory against Brazil in this round of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Playing in El Alto, at an altitude of 4,100 meters, the home team was more aggressive and opened the scoring with Miguelito, from a penalty kick confirmed by VAR in the first half's stoppage time.

Throughout the game, the Brazilian team struggled to maintain possession and create attacking plays, while the Bolivians took advantage of the pressure from the crowd and the physical factor to dominate the action.

BRAZILIAN DEFENSE GIVES IN TO THE RHYTHM

The star player of the match, Miguelito was Bolivia's attacking engine, taking shots from outside the box and directly participating in key opportunities. The goal from the young striker, who came through Santos' youth ranks and currently plays for América-MG , rewarded the hosts' attacking approach.

Brazil, meanwhile, had just three shots that were truly dangerous in the entire first half. Luiz Henrique, Richarlison, and Bruno Guimarães were the ones who attempted the most , but were either stopped by goalkeeper Lampe or by shots that were off target.

SECOND HALF MAINTAINS SCRIPT

After the break, Carlo Ancelotti attempted to change the situation by introducing offensive changes, such as Estêvão and João Pedro. Despite the more aggressive approach, Brazil continued to stumble on passing errors and struggled to overcome Bolivia's compact defense.

Goalkeeper Alisson had to work hard on powerful shots from Robson Matheus and Paniagua, while the Brazilian attack was limited to crosses blocked by the opposing defense. With this result, Bolivia continues to dream of a playoff spot for the 2026 World Cup , also boosted by the stumbles of its direct rivals in the round.

The search for a key center forward for the Brazilian national team has been a challenge in recent years. Several names have been tested, such as João Pedro, Gabriel Jesus, and others , but none have managed to establish themselves as a regular starter.

In an interview with Romário, Adriano Imperador weighed in on the matter and named Flamengo striker Pedro as the best option to take over the position. " He's my number 9 on the Brazilian national team. He's a true center forward ," the former player said, recalling his own experiences as a goalscorer.

RECENT HISTORY OF CENTER FORWARDS

Pedro was called up by Tite for the 2022 World Cup, but didn't get significant opportunities, as Richarlison was chosen as the starter. Before him, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison shared the attacking role in the last two World Cups , while Roberto Firmino also had starting opportunities at times during the cycle.

Currently, the list of attacking options includes prominent players from Europe and Brazil. Chelsea's João Pedro has been attracting attention in England. Endrick, who already plays for Real Madrid, is also among the players with a future. Cruzeiro's Kaio Jorge and Igor Jesus, formerly of Botafogo and now at Nottingham Forest, have also been named in recent call-ups.

PEDRO GAINS SPACE AGAIN AFTER INJURY

The Mengão center forward suffered a serious injury in September 2024, which delayed his bid for a starting spot. However, in recent weeks, he has returned to performing well and remains a possibility of being called up again . Adriano Imperador's public opinion fuels the debate surrounding Pedro as an option for Carlo Ancelotti in the national team.

CONMEBOL confirmed this week the uniforms that Flamengo and Estudiantes will wear in their Copa Libertadores quarterfinal matches. The first leg takes place on September 18th at the Maracanã stadium , while the return leg will be on the 25th in La Plata.

In Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo will play in its traditional uniform: a red-and-black shirt, white shorts, and red-and-black striped socks. Estudiantes will take to the field in a white shirt, black shorts, and white socks.

In Argentina, the second match will feature the Mais Querido team wearing their away kit, all-white with gold accents. Estudiantes, meanwhile, will wear their classic red-and-white striped jersey with black shorts and socks.

FLAMENGO X STUDIANTES

In the round of 16, Rubro-Negro advanced with authority by eliminating Internacional . At Maracanã, they won 1-0, with a goal from Bruno Henrique, and confirmed their place in Porto Alegre with a 2-0 victory, in which Arrascaeta and Pedro scored.

On the other side, Estudiantes had more difficulties against Cerro Porteño. The Argentine team won 1-0 in Paraguay and held on for a goalless draw in La Plata, securing their spot among the top eight in the continental competition.

ROAD TO THE SEMIFINAL

The winner of the duel between Flamengo and Estudiantes will face either Racing or Vélez in the Copa Libertadores semifinals . The matches are scheduled for the end of September and promise great anticipation among fans.

Before that, Mais Querido turns its attention to the Brazilian Championship. Next Sunday (14), the team faces Juventude, in the 23rd round, in Caxias do Sul, at 4 pm (Brasília time) . The delegation's trip is scheduled for Saturday.