34′ Douglas Luiz leans back and plays a lofted cross to the far side of the 18 for Everton, but he’s unable to settle it as Lampe manages to gather it.
32′ With just over 15 minutes left in the half, Bolivia will be hoping to go into the interval just two-goals down, as they’ve offered nothing in the way of resistance. It’s been all Brazil as expected.
30′ It’s another assist for a full-back in this match as Lodi’s delivery was the key pass for Firmino’s goal.
Roberto Firmino
Goal
30′ BRAZIL DOUBLE THEIR ADVANTAGE! It’s as easy a goal as Brazil will score as Neymar plays Lodi into the penalty area, where the left-back goes completely unmarked. A simple ball across the six-yard box for Firmino is met with an easy tap-in finish as Bolivia find themselves down two within 30 minutes. 2-0!
28′ Coutinho again has a strike at goal from well outside the penalty area, but this time he fails to force the goalkeeper into action as it flies high and wide of the target.
26′ The ensuing corner is repelled from the penalty area, but it allows Lodi a chance to hit an effort from distance. The strike is well-taken, but it takes a deflection and lands comfortably in the arms of the goalkeeper.
24′ Coutinho shifts the ball to his right foot from just inside the penalty area and forces a wonderful diving save out of Lampe – who palms it out for a corner.
22′ Neymar charges towards goal and slips a lovely pass through for the run of Coutinho, but Jesus Sagredo just eases the Barcelona midfielder off the ball; legally says the referee.
20′ Brazil have thoroughly dominated the opening 20 minutes, holding onto possession for almost 90 percent of the time. Tite will be happy with how quickly his side have started the match, as Bolivia will be forced to leave gaps at the back as they come forward for an equaliser.
18′ Casemiro plays an incisive pass that cuts through the heart of the defence for Neymar, but the forward was unable to hold his run as the linesman flags for offside.
Danilo
Assist
16′ Danilo gets the assist as it was his accurate cross that found the head of Marquinhos.
Marquinhos
Goal
16′ BRAZIL TAKE THE LEAD! Marquinhos makes amends for his earlier miss with an easy header powered past the goalkeeper from the edge of the six-yard box! It was a simple finish for the PSG defender, who was completely unmarked.
13′ Wayar seems to have left his leg dangling – which prompts Neymar to go to ground. It appeared a late and careless tackle, but the referee sides with the visitors as Bolivia are given a chance to clear their half.
11′ Everton is trapped by two defenders at the byline inside the Bolivia penalty area before Valverde steps in and thumps the ball downfield.
9′ A Brazil attack comes to a disappointing end as Lodi’s cross sails over even the head of Neymar on the far side – giving Bolivia a throw-in deep within their own half.
7′ Coutinho swings a corner into the penalty area and again it’s Marquinhos who gets a head to it – but he’s unable to do anything with it as the weak effort is nodded back towards the set-piece taker.
5′ CHANCE! Marquinhos is found inside the penalty area but his close-range header is directed narrowly wide!
3′ Neymar looks to get on the ball and cut inside on the edge of the 18, but he’s immediately tracked by as many as four defenders as he turns his back towards goal and looks for an option behind him.
1′ Brazil get the match underway from the kick-off!
Bolivia go with a 4-4-2 with Lampe in goal. Jose Sagredo, Carrasco, Jesus Sagredo and Valverde make up the defence, while Miranda, Bustamante, Wayar and Arabe line up in front of them in midfield. The goal-scoring responsibility will be shared between two strikers, as Menacho and Saldias form the partnership.
Tite starts with Weverton in goal, protected by a back four of Renan Lodi, Marquinhos, Silva and Danilo. Coutinho and Douglas Luiz operate on either side of Casemiro in midfield and in attack, Neymar and Everton will look to supply forward Firmino.
BOLIVIA SUBS: Ruben Cordano, Jimmy Roca, Leonardo Zabala, Guimer Justiniano, Luis Banegas, Rudy Cardozo, Jhasmany Campos, Franz Gonzalez, Carlos Enrique Anez, Boris Cespedes, Carlos Saucedo.
BOLIVIA XI (4-4-2): Carlos Lampe; Jose Sagredo, Jose Carrasco, Jesus Sagredo, Juan Gabriel Valverde; Bruno Miranda, Antonio Bustamante, Diego Wayar, Christian Arabe; Fernando Saldias, Cesar Menacho.
BRAZIL SUBS: Ederson, Aderbar Santos, Alex Telles, Rodrigo Caio, Felipe, Fabinho, Bruno Guimaraes, Richarlison, Matheus Cunha, Everton Ribeiro, Rodrygo, Gabriel Menino.
BRAZIL XI (4-3-3): Weverton; Renan Lodi, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Danilo; Philippe Coutinho, Casemiro, Douglas Luiz; Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Everton.
With 10 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s look at how the two sides will line up, starting with the hosts!
Bolivia are looking to book their place at the World Cup for the fourth time, and the first since 1994. Cesar Farias is charged with navigating his squad of mainly domestic players through an extremely difficult test, as La Verde open their campaign against Brazil followed by Argentina.
Tite’s side begin their quest for a place in the Qatar World Cup tonight against a Bolivia team that has failed to score against Brazil in their last four meetings. To make matters more difficult, the Selecao are undefeated in their last 17 South American qualifiers, dating back to a 2-0 loss in 2015 against Chile.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the CONMEBOL World Cup 2022 qualifying fixture between Brazil and Bolivia!
Renan Lodi
Assist