'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In the biggest matchup of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Brazil defeated Uruguay 2-0 in Montevideo to continue their perfect start.
Arthur and Richarlison were on target for the reigning Copa America champions, with La Celeste now winless in 11 games against their mighty neighbours.
With top-scorer Luis Suarez sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19, Oscar Tabarez's side struggled to string together attacks. Edinson Cavani's sending off in the second-half for stamping on Richarlison further compounded Uruguay's misery.
The defeat, Uruguay's second of the qualifying campaign, relegates them to fifth in the standings whereas the Canaries consolidate their position at the top with 12 points out of 12.
On that note, here are the major talking points from the match:
#1 Tite's tactical switch liberates Brazil
Brazil's perfect start to the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign shows that they're once again the team to beat. However, it doesn't tell the whole story.
In the last game, the Copa America holders huffed and puffed against Venezuela, only sneaking through with a narrow 1-0 win courtesy of a late strike from Roberto Firmino. That was a classic example of Brazil's shortcomings against teams who sit deep and employ a low block, but Tite's rigid formation also played its part.
The attacking frontline, with Richarlison as the centre-forward and flanked by Firmino on the left and Jesus on the right, looked very disjointed, and Douglas Luiz was wasted on the right side of the midfield three.
Against Uruguay, the Brazil manager switched to a 4-4-2. The result was that Brazil's attack was far more fluid than what it was at the weekend; Jesus and Richarlison spearheaded the lineup, and Firmino played at the tip of the midfield. It was no wonder that both the men up front had a hand in Brazil's goals.
Adding a further edge to the attack was Everton Ribeiro, who was superb with his marauding runs as the right-winger. He provided great width down the flank in Philippe Coutinho's absence.
Even though it was not a vintage performance, Brazil showed far greater attacking efficiency against Uruguay, managing four shots on target from six attempts compared to only three in 11 in their last game.
#2 Edinson Cavani receives a contentious red card
Uruguay's night was made worse when their star striker Edinson Cavani was sent off for a rash challenge on Richarlison, with 20 minutes remaining on the clock. The referee had initially brandished a yellow, but after a review on the pitchside monitor, he changed his decision to red.
It appeared that Cavani wasn't really deserving of the red card. He sure appeared to stamp on the Everton man, but it wasn't intentional, was it? The Manchester United star was in full flow at that moment, and the foul was purely by accident.
According to the International Football Association Board, a player can get sent off for a 'reckless challenge' which 'endangers the safety of the opponent', or for 'using excessive force'. So now, where do you put Cavani's foul here? His challenge surely left Richarlison in a heap, but was it reckless? No. Did he use excessive force? No, he didn't.
Everyone will have their own opinion on this. But this episode might have a huge impact when Uruguay face Argentina away from home in March. That is because Cavani, who had a heated argument with the touchline referee, will play no part in the game.
#3 Renan Lodi could solve Brazil's left-back woes
Atletico Madrid star Renan Lodi was superb at left-back against Uruguay, making another assist to bring his tally up to four for Brazil in just eight games.
While that's a resounding start to his international career, is he the long-term solution to Brazil's left-back woes?
Marcelo has been the undisputed choice in this position for a very long time. However, his rapid decline in recent years has seen the Real Madrid star banished into international exile since the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Moreover, another left-back, Alex Sandro, was also not called up to the Brazil squad this year.
This leaves Lodi with a bright chance to make the spot his own, and on current evidence, he's well on his way to do so. A defensively solid player, who constantly overlaps and is a great threat with his crossing ability, Lodi has all the makings of a top full-back.
#4 Uruguay struggle offensively once again
Luis Suarez's absence surely limited Uruguay's attacking prowess against Brazil, but it hasn't been too great even otherwise. Of the seven goals that the Skyblues have managed in the ongoing qualifying campaign so far, only three have come from open play; the rest have been spot kicks converted by the former Barcelona star.
Against Brazil, Oscar Tabarez's side failed to muster even a single shot on target from five attempts. They did have the ball in the back of the net in the second-half, but it was ruled offside. Darwin Nunez and Diego Godin both rattled the Brazil crossbar. Otherwise, Brazil were not troubled much.
This is quickly becoming a worrying theme for the 2011 Copa America champions, who've been uncharacteristically poor in attack for a while. And with Argentina up next in March followed by the Copa America in June, Uruguay must find their attacking rhythm sooner than later.
#5 Brazil are cruising towards another FIFA World Cup appearance
Well, their qualification for the mega tournament has never been in doubt, but the way Brazil are cruising towards another FIFA World Cup is really impressive. Having won all their four games so far, they're now the only side with a 100% record in the CONMEBOL zone, scoring 12 times and conceding just twice.
One might easily dismiss Brazil's victories against Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru as low-hanging fruits, but in reality, these were hard-earned wins. After their win over Uruguay, the Seleccao will feel confident heading into the next set of World Cup qualifying games against Colombia and Argentina in March next year.
Wrapping up the qualification campaign as soon as possible will allow Tite to give his fringe players a chance and to experiment with new formations. Brazil aim to defend their Copa America title next year as well as go all the way in Qatar.
