"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
30 Mar 2017
Philippe Coutinho had opened the scoring for Brazil, but it was Neymar's solo goal that helped Brazil trounce Paraguay and qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It was an eighth straight qualifying victory for the five time world champions.
An invincible Brazil team playing under the new management became the first team to qualify for the World Cup while its rival Argentina playing without Messi lost to Bolivia and slipped from third to fifth place which heightened its risk of missing a spot at Russia 2018
Brazil moved to 33 points from 14 matches in South American qualifying when it scored a 3-0 victory over Paraguay.
The top four in South America earn direct places at the World Cup. The South American team that ranks fifth goes into a playoff against a team from Oceania for a spot in Russia.
While Argentina struggled, Colombia defeated Ecuador 2-0 to register its first win in Quito in 20 years and is in second spot in qualifying with 24 points. Ecuador which slipped to sixth with 20 points couldn't make it to the top five for the first time,