A strange start to qualifying. Although they classify it as 6 and a half, there are few lucky ones. Paraguay fired the coach after the second game, Bolivia after the fourth, Peru and Chile are waiting to fire them and appoint a new one, in Ecuador fierce criticism of the Catalan coach Félix Sánchez (“The team does not play anything”, the teams say unanimously. Middle of the world). Much of Uruguay was angry that they had an Argentinian coach, which is something unacceptable in that country. Above all, many Uruguayan strategists, upset that they were not chosen for the Celeste seat, openly criticized Bielsa; He also has a lot of fans for not calling Suárez and Cavani , but inscriptions with the legend “Thank you, Marcelo” are already appearing.

And a 2-0 win over Brazil buried the complaints. “Bielsa is covering the mouths of all of us who thought otherwise, we have to accept it,” declared Chengue Morales, that dark and big number 9 who was the architect of Uruguay’s return to the World Cup in 2002. Bielsa was dismissed by the Uruguayan scrapper, pulled back and countered, this is young, fast and offensive version. More modern, without a doubt.

From a distance, there is a strange sensation in Colombia about its national team, between coldness, conformity and disbelief. However, despite not having high-level raw material, Lorenzo succeeds. There are a lot of goals, but few goals, not bad. He doesn’t score anymore because of the enmity between the Colombian soccer player and the goal. But the selection is going well. If she has already collected 6 points in just four games, it is assumed that she will calmly reach 23 in 18, which will qualify her. And let’s note that he deserved more against Uruguay and Ecuador. But no one is popping the champagne corks yet.

Venezuela yes, it’s a football Disneyland. They have a lot of “soccer” players, and when we say “soccer” everyone understands: they know how to handle the ball, they play well, they have technique, skill. And above, three scorers: Salomón Rondón (41 international goals), Josef Martínez (14) and, in case one of them is missing, Eric Ramírez is in the bedroom. Eric shines in Nacional de Medellín. Behind, two columns: Yordan Osorio and Wilker Ángel. And Bocha Batista, the coach who sends them to play. Venezuela is happy in football terms. 3-0 for Chile gave more value to the draw in Brazil.

Argentina shines in every presentation, with a sumptuous game, but above all very greasy. And team. It is a chamber orchestra with a fantastic conductor. Tick, tick, thump, thump, thump… If you score a goal, grab the ball and don’t carry it further. And the opponent wanders around the court not knowing what to do in front of an almost perfect block that precisely touches the ball and circles it to mentally balance his markers. And it is very difficult to score goals. It is Lionel Scaloni’s masterpiece that far surpassed Menotti, Bilardo, Basile, Bielsa… This is not how Argentina played. And the fan is happy because, even though the results experts want to convince us otherwise, victory produces joy, a good game pride.

The big problem of these qualifications is Brazil. Play ugly and bad. It comes from drag. He has not been a world champion for 21 years – in 2026 he will complete 24 – and in the last 15 he has won the Copa América (in an almost identical period, between 1989 and 2007, he won five). Venezuela tied it three times as a guest, twice in the qualifiers. Uruguay beat him after 22 years. Something is happening. What is it…? It is filled with “normal” players.

Before there were holy monsters, Pelé, Garrincha, Gerson, Zico, Falcão, Romario, who defined every game, no matter how complicated. There are no more like that. The one who could have been at this moment, Neymar, has not yet materialized. Vinicius could become one of those, although their temperament betrays them: many are party-goers or irritable. Even those stars that we could classify as level B – Bebeto, Careca, Luis Pereira, Dirceu – were top level. Over fifty years in Verdeamarilla, the position of left back was occupied by the sensational Francisco Marinho (the spectacle rose to the top in all actions), Junior, Branco, Roberto Carlos, Marcelo… Renan Lodi plays today. At the other end, the same thing happens: from Carlos Alberto, Nelinho, Josimar, Cafú, Dani Alves went to the current Danilo. The same thing happens in every place on the field.

For Marco Condez, Globoesporte analyst, “The national team must acquire a playing pattern. Diniz’s scheme is not simple and in order to be well executed, it requires a lot of training, adaptation and relationships between the athletes. But since this is the fourth match (against Uruguay), there was a great expectation due to the tactical evolution and the presentation of some already automated movements, especially due to the maturity and quality of the team.” The problem, adds Condez, is that Diniz’s style bears no resemblance to Tite’s previous style, nor to Ancelotti’s, who is expected next June. That is why he questions the correctness of the election.

However, the problem is not only temporary, but more fundamental. Celso Unzelte, the author of various football books, sees the same thing as us: “The monsters we always had, who were many and together, are missing. Neymar plays alone. Throughout his career, Pelé was also surrounded by phenomena, such as Rivelin, Gerson, Tostão, Jairzinho, Garrincha, Didí, Nilton Santos, Djalma Santos… Today Brazil is football like the rest, only with good players, with one addition: as we always are had to deal with monsters, even at the worst times we were ahead, we just had to look for one of them and they would handle it. It’s always been like that. Even in the 2002 Cup there were Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká…”

The absence of genius led to another problem, says Celso: “Precisely because we always had great individualities, we despised the study of the game, of tactics, which is so important today. We’re behind on this one. Just look at the crisis we have with coaches. They are not important technicians in the international market, unlike the Argentine and Portuguese ones. That is why our clubs are looking for directors from those countries. They spent decades underestimating the tactical aspect and privileging individuality.

And now we don’t have that individuality and we are in trouble in the middle of modern football, more physical, with less space. There are questions about Fernando Diniz, in my opinion a man of ideas, who is trying to do something different, but he is alone. Instead of asking why we don’t have monsters anymore, we should ask why they appeared so much before in Brazil and not in other countries, it wasn’t normal.”

So why is there less talent coming out than in the past…? There is a tendency to train sales, and sell earlier and earlier. Endrick, the young prodigy of Palmeiras, was transferred to Real Madrid at the age of 16 for 70 million euros. As soon as he turns 18 he will leave. This is what is required, not for a young person to settle and consolidate in Brazil before emigrating. Endrick hasn’t hatched yet, and he’s already a millionaire. Economic is a priority over sports. Not good.

Brazil’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup is not in danger, it is still a force, it is third in the world rankings, but on a good afternoon – like Uruguay had – it can be beaten, it no longer seems impossible. (OR)