Brazil 1-0 Colombia: 5 talking points as Lucas Paqueta strike confirms Selecao tickets to Qatar | 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

#3 Why isn't Tite starting Vinicius?

Vinicius made an excellent cameo off the bench for Brazil against Colombia.

It's a million-dollar question and one that Brazil coach Tite ought to answer soon. Vinicius Junior has started just once for the Selecao in the last three months despite being in the best form of his life in the 2021-22 club season.

Even against Colombia, the Real Madrid ace only came off the bench, replacing the ineffective Fred at the break. Vinicius took no time to show his value to the side, however.

He ran at Colombia like a raging bull, bursting onto his trademark dribbles to carry the ball forward into attacking positions. Vinicius also linked up well with his attacking cohort.

Still only 21, the Brazilian has a genuine quality to become a star for the national team. But he can only realize his potential if Tite starts him regularly.

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#2 Brazil seal Qatar spot, Colombia hanging by the balance

Brazil are the third side, after Germany and Denmark, to confirm their place in Qatar

With this victory, Brazil qualify for the Qatar showpiece with six games still to spare. The Canaries have been in a league of their own in these qualifiers, even racing to 10 consecutive victories from the start.

A 0-0 draw with Los Cafeteros last month brought that run to an end, but it's the only blot in their otherwise pristine copybook.

Colombia, meanwhile, have now slipped to fifth in the standings, one below the last automatic qualification spot.

With Chile making a late surge, competition for the top-four has intensified. Reinaldo Rueda's side cannot afford to drop any more points if they want to receive their ticket for the 2022 World Cup.

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#1 It's Neymar's world, we're just living in it

Needless to say, Neymar ran the show for Brazil again.

Neymar has been the undisputed star of these qualifiers in the CONMEBOL zone. With seven goals and eight assists, he's made the highest goal-contribution of any player and has also created numerous other chances.

Neymar's prolific tally includes the assist he made for Paqueta today, slicing Colombia open with a defence-splitting pass. The Lyon star then thumped it home first-time for the only goal of the game.

But the PSG ace was more than just that. Neymar gave the opposition defense multiple nightmares with his precocious dribbling skills and eye-catching trickery. The Colombians had no answer, but to hack the 29-year-old down time and again.