Paraguay vs Brazil prediction: SOUTH AMERICA: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-09-10 00:30.
[p]The Gustavo Alfaro era began in solid fashion for Paraguay, who managed to put an end to their three-game losing streak by stifling Luis Suárez’s international swansong with a goalless draw against Uruguay. Paraguay will need to muster up more improvement if they’re to qualify for USA 2026 though, as with only one win so far in this qualifying cycle (D3, L3), they’re deeply rooted in the bottom half of the table.[/p]
[p]Absent from the World Cup finals since 2010, Paraguay will be aiming to upset the odds and get back on track here against Brazil. That may not be beyond reasonable expectations given that Alfaro has managed three consecutive draws against the five-time champions with Ecuador and Costa Rica. Even with that in mind, achieving anything more than a point would be impressive for a Paraguay side who haven’t beaten Brazil within 90 minutes since a home qualifier way back in 2008.[/p]
[p]After a tumultuous time in this cycle, Brazil finally ended their four-game winless run (D1, L3) with a 1-0 win against Bolivia to kick off this international break. That was their fourth win under current manager Dorival Júnior (D4, L1), and another here would represent their first consecutive wins under his tutelage. Anything short of that would be a disappointment, especially seeing as Brazil have scored ten times across three H2Hs in this decade (W3). [/p]
[p]Even one more defeat in this cycle may be deemed unacceptable as Brazil have incurred more losses (L3) than during any other single World Cup Qualification cycle since Japan 2002. Two of those defeats were in their most recent qualifying trips, a run which they’ll expect to end right here having put together an imperious run of 18 consecutive unbeaten away World Cup Qualifiers prior to those reversals (W11, D7). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Paraguay and Vancouver midfielder AndrĂ©s Cubas isn’t afraid to get stuck into a challenge, picking up a card in each of his last three international outings. Rodrygo was the difference for Brazil in their latest qualifier, with the Real Madrid man registering the match opener in five of his last six scoring appearances for club and country. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Brazil scored at least four goals in five of their last eight World Cup Qualifying victories. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]