Vinicius on target as Brazil book spot in World Cup
A goal by Vinicius Junior secured Brazil a place in the 2026 World Cup, quite a celebration for Carlo Ancelotti's home debut as head coach.
The once prolific duo at Real Madrid helped Brazil to a 1-0 win over Paraguay in Sao Paulo on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
Brazil's win means Ecuador also progress after a 0-0 away draw against Peru in Lima.
Defending champions Argentina, held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia, had already qualified for next year's global tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Ecuador and Brazil each have 25 points in the standings, but the Ecuadorians are in second spot based on victories. The two nations are 10 points behind Argentina but, crucially, more than six points clear of the seventh-placed team with two games remaining in the qualifying campaign.
The top six teams in South America earn direct entries to the 48-team World Cup.
In Sao Paolo, a mistake by Paraguay's defence, a low cross by Cunha and a gentle touch by Brazil's new No.10 produced the only goal of the match.
"We needed to win here for our people. Now we have more time to work, see what we can improve," Vinicius said after the match.
He won't play Brazil's next game in qualifying against Chile because of suspension.
Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup after losing 2-0 at Bolivia to remain last in the 10-nation round-robin competition, a result that cost head coach Ricardo Gareca his job.
Uruguay beat Venezuela at home 2-0, edging closer to one of the six direct World Cup spots with 24 points.
Venezuela, with 18, are one ahead of Bolivia in the contest for seventh place that grants an intercontinental playoff berth.
In Buenos Aires, Luis Diaz opened the scoring for the visiting Colombians in the 24th minute, before Julian Alvarez equalised for the home side in the 81st minute.
Colombia, with 22 points, will play for their World Cup future later this year against Bolivia and Venezuela.
In Europe, Memphis Depay tied the scoring record for the Netherlands men's national team with two goals in the side's 8-0 World Cup qualifying win over Malta.
Depay scored in the ninth and 16th minutes for his 49th and 50th goals for the Netherlands at Euroborg Stadium in Groningen on Tuesday.
In doing so he equalled the Dutch record set by team great Robin van Persie.
Depay hit 50 goals in his 102nd game for the Netherlands, while van Persie's 50th came in his 101st game in 2015.
Finland's game against Poland in Helsinki was suspended because of a medical emergency in the stadium with Finland leading 2-1. The game later resumed and the home side hung on for the win.
Finland lead Group G by a point from the Netherlands, but have played two more games. Poland dropped from first to third.
In other qualifiers in Europe, Austria beat San Marino 4-0, Romania won 2-0 against Cyprus, Serbia beat Andorra 3-0, and Latvia and Albania fought out a 1-1 draw.
A goal by Vinicius Junior secured Brazil a place in the 2026 World Cup, quite a celebration for Carlo Ancelotti's home debut as head coach.
The once prolific duo at Real Madrid helped Brazil to a 1-0 win over Paraguay in Sao Paulo on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
Brazil's win means Ecuador also progress after a 0-0 away draw against Peru in Lima.
Defending champions Argentina, held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia, had already qualified for next year's global tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Ecuador and Brazil each have 25 points in the standings, but the Ecuadorians are in second spot based on victories. The two nations are 10 points behind Argentina but, crucially, more than six points clear of the seventh-placed team with two games remaining in the qualifying campaign.
The top six teams in South America earn direct entries to the 48-team World Cup.
In Sao Paolo, a mistake by Paraguay's defence, a low cross by Cunha and a gentle touch by Brazil's new No.10 produced the only goal of the match.
"We needed to win here for our people. Now we have more time to work, see what we can improve," Vinicius said after the match.
He won't play Brazil's next game in qualifying against Chile because of suspension.
Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup after losing 2-0 at Bolivia to remain last in the 10-nation round-robin competition, a result that cost head coach Ricardo Gareca his job.
Uruguay beat Venezuela at home 2-0, edging closer to one of the six direct World Cup spots with 24 points.
Venezuela, with 18, are one ahead of Bolivia in the contest for seventh place that grants an intercontinental playoff berth.
In Buenos Aires, Luis Diaz opened the scoring for the visiting Colombians in the 24th minute, before Julian Alvarez equalised for the home side in the 81st minute.
Colombia, with 22 points, will play for their World Cup future later this year against Bolivia and Venezuela.
In Europe, Memphis Depay tied the scoring record for the Netherlands men's national team with two goals in the side's 8-0 World Cup qualifying win over Malta.
Depay scored in the ninth and 16th minutes for his 49th and 50th goals for the Netherlands at Euroborg Stadium in Groningen on Tuesday.
In doing so he equalled the Dutch record set by team great Robin van Persie.
Depay hit 50 goals in his 102nd game for the Netherlands, while van Persie's 50th came in his 101st game in 2015.
Finland's game against Poland in Helsinki was suspended because of a medical emergency in the stadium with Finland leading 2-1. The game later resumed and the home side hung on for the win.
Finland lead Group G by a point from the Netherlands, but have played two more games. Poland dropped from first to third.
In other qualifiers in Europe, Austria beat San Marino 4-0, Romania won 2-0 against Cyprus, Serbia beat Andorra 3-0, and Latvia and Albania fought out a 1-1 draw.
A goal by Vinicius Junior secured Brazil a place in the 2026 World Cup, quite a celebration for Carlo Ancelotti's home debut as head coach.
The once prolific duo at Real Madrid helped Brazil to a 1-0 win over Paraguay in Sao Paulo on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
Brazil's win means Ecuador also progress after a 0-0 away draw against Peru in Lima.
Defending champions Argentina, held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia, had already qualified for next year's global tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Ecuador and Brazil each have 25 points in the standings, but the Ecuadorians are in second spot based on victories. The two nations are 10 points behind Argentina but, crucially, more than six points clear of the seventh-placed team with two games remaining in the qualifying campaign.
The top six teams in South America earn direct entries to the 48-team World Cup.
In Sao Paolo, a mistake by Paraguay's defence, a low cross by Cunha and a gentle touch by Brazil's new No.10 produced the only goal of the match.
"We needed to win here for our people. Now we have more time to work, see what we can improve," Vinicius said after the match.
He won't play Brazil's next game in qualifying against Chile because of suspension.
Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup after losing 2-0 at Bolivia to remain last in the 10-nation round-robin competition, a result that cost head coach Ricardo Gareca his job.
Uruguay beat Venezuela at home 2-0, edging closer to one of the six direct World Cup spots with 24 points.
Venezuela, with 18, are one ahead of Bolivia in the contest for seventh place that grants an intercontinental playoff berth.
In Buenos Aires, Luis Diaz opened the scoring for the visiting Colombians in the 24th minute, before Julian Alvarez equalised for the home side in the 81st minute.
Colombia, with 22 points, will play for their World Cup future later this year against Bolivia and Venezuela.
In Europe, Memphis Depay tied the scoring record for the Netherlands men's national team with two goals in the side's 8-0 World Cup qualifying win over Malta.
Depay scored in the ninth and 16th minutes for his 49th and 50th goals for the Netherlands at Euroborg Stadium in Groningen on Tuesday.
In doing so he equalled the Dutch record set by team great Robin van Persie.
Depay hit 50 goals in his 102nd game for the Netherlands, while van Persie's 50th came in his 101st game in 2015.
Finland's game against Poland in Helsinki was suspended because of a medical emergency in the stadium with Finland leading 2-1. The game later resumed and the home side hung on for the win.
Finland lead Group G by a point from the Netherlands, but have played two more games. Poland dropped from first to third.
In other qualifiers in Europe, Austria beat San Marino 4-0, Romania won 2-0 against Cyprus, Serbia beat Andorra 3-0, and Latvia and Albania fought out a 1-1 draw.
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Sam Kerr is still recovering from her ruptured ACL and also a more recent injury that required surgery. Fellow star attacker Mary Fowler (knee) is also out with her own long-term injury, while Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Cortnee Vine and Katrina Gorry are on leave. Tameka Yallop (leg) is another player who is absent. Wheeler is amongst nine players who will only be available for the first two matches of the four-game block. Nevertheless, Wheeler said the two-week camp will be critical in helping the squad prepare for next year's Asian Cup, which begins on March 1. "There's not many camps left before Asian Cup, so every camp matters," she said. "Joe's come in with a wealth of experience, and he has a certain ideology of how he wants to play going forward. "These first couple of days, it's about taking as much as we can in and with these games it's going to be really good for us to try and implement that. "It's going to take maybe a bit of time, and that's why we have these games. "Do I think it's going to be perfect straight off the bat? I don't know. We're going to try our best." Perth is a happy place for Wheeler, having scored her first international goal at Optus Stadium during the Matildas' 8-0 romp over the Philippines in 2023. "Honestly, just pure joy," Wheeler said of the goal. "Hopefully I can do it again." The Joe Montemurro era at the Matildas has officially begun, and the new game plan is music to the ears for midfielder Clare Wheeler. The Matildas have assembled in Perth ahead of two games against Slovenia and two games against Panama. The action kicks off on Thursday night when the Matildas host Slovenia at HBF Park, with the match marking Montemurro's first game in charge of the national side. The four games in Western Australia are an important building block for Montemurro ahead of the 2026 Asian Cup in Australia, the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, and the 2028 Olympics. Montemurro has already held meetings with his players, and Wheeler is liking the fluid and control-style game plan the former Arsenal, Lyon and Juventus coach is encouraging. "As a midfielder, you want to get on the ball," Wheeler said. "So it's great when a coach says that he wants you on the ball. I think that's music to our ears. "And it's also a challenge ... especially against, opposition where you're under pressure a lot. "But I think when you have that trust from your coach that believes in the team to be able to do that, it feels good. "I can't wait to get started." The Matildas will be without plenty of star power for the games in WA. Sam Kerr is still recovering from her ruptured ACL and also a more recent injury that required surgery. Fellow star attacker Mary Fowler (knee) is also out with her own long-term injury, while Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Cortnee Vine and Katrina Gorry are on leave. Tameka Yallop (leg) is another player who is absent. Wheeler is amongst nine players who will only be available for the first two matches of the four-game block. Nevertheless, Wheeler said the two-week camp will be critical in helping the squad prepare for next year's Asian Cup, which begins on March 1. "There's not many camps left before Asian Cup, so every camp matters," she said. "Joe's come in with a wealth of experience, and he has a certain ideology of how he wants to play going forward. "These first couple of days, it's about taking as much as we can in and with these games it's going to be really good for us to try and implement that. "It's going to take maybe a bit of time, and that's why we have these games. "Do I think it's going to be perfect straight off the bat? I don't know. We're going to try our best." Perth is a happy place for Wheeler, having scored her first international goal at Optus Stadium during the Matildas' 8-0 romp over the Philippines in 2023. "Honestly, just pure joy," Wheeler said of the goal. "Hopefully I can do it again."
