Peru vs. Brazil | Five goals from 21 shots: Can Bolivia try to stop Scratch and the Peruvian team with a strong defensive game? | Juan Reynoso | Qualifiers 2026 | Game-Total

Read: The True Story of How Reynoso Got to the ‘U’ by Daniel Perido

Twenty-four minutes was enough to open the Scratch score. On the first day of the 2026 qualifiers, no team scored the fastest goal. Maybe even before. Neymar, by his own admission, missed a penalty 17 minutes into the first half in the most embarrassing fashion: a short run and a soft, careless shot that was saved without problem by goalkeeper Guillermo Vizcarra.

Brazil-Bolivia left two undisputed results. First, many stars in attack (Neymar, Rodrigo, Rafinha, Richarlison) Canarinha, you can’t stop them with such a low defense, almost abandoned the attack for the whole game. The Bolivian national team, led by Gustavo Costas, deployed five defenders behind four midfielders, leaving only Marcelo Moreno Martins to “attack”. Second, Neymar is not going to stop being out of shape, gaining a little weight, and running a crack, less. He showed it in the game: missed penalty, but double He surpassed Pele to become Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer with 79 celebrations, two more than O’Reay.. Rodrigo, who was looking for a ’10’, scored both goals. And Rabinha scored a goal.

The debut was played by a scratch – which was predictable – and with Tide’s pragmatism it showed a completely different football than what it had shown. As a Fluminense is doing, Fernando Diniz He has brought out his team’s ‘joga bonito’: four attacking players who move without reference in the opponent’s field, full-backs who constantly join the attack and central defenders who are always positioned in the middle of the field. Tuesday at the National Stadium – a perfect jumble of a style of play that is unpredictable for its rivals.

Chronicle: Lionel Messi: A champion who continues to score great goals and dreams of another World Cup

Can you stop Brazil with five defenders?

The only time Peru played Brazil with five defenders in the Carega era, we suffered. It was the semi-finals of the Copa America 2021 and although we didn’t concede a goal, Scratch ended up scoring ten times in 45 minutes with a goal by Pedro Gallis. Bolivia did the same in their opening match at the 2026 qualifiers and conceded five, taking 21 shots in the entire tournament. They came at goalkeeper Vizcarra from all sides.

It is not confirmed that Juan Reynoso chooses that setting with the five line in the background. Although it can happen if taken into account: Juan knows that he has to join before Canarinha in any case and is not shy to stop the bus near the Calais bend. Also, the trainer has already tried – without success, of course – the program said. He did it in friendlies against Germany and Morocco, where Peru didn’t have a single shot on goal.

Playing with five at the back brings its risks, and if Brazil and its megastars are up front, what happened to Bolivia could happen: they couldn’t get past the midfield for the entire first half. Canarinha has no problem massing men in attack. If ‘Green’ put five or six defenders in their area, Dinis’ team introduces five or six attackers. More legs, more chances to rebound inside the curve or on known feet. That’s how Rodrigo’s goal came: Rafinha’s play from the right, left-footed shot saved by Vizcarra and the rebound pushed against the Real Madrid player.

In Brazil the full back plays an important role: Renon Lodi Left and Danilo On the right they join the attack and widen the field to give freedom to the wings. They don’t have the technique of Cafu or Marcelo, but they are Brazilians and play football.

You may also be interested in: A new loss in the national team: Who will replace Advincula against Brazil?

Starting the game with everyone behind is detrimental if the opponent scores first. No matter the minute. Because that’s where the big problem begins: how can we attack if we only focus on defending ourselves? If Peru play like this, they will have to counter-punch at some point Paolo It’s very difficult: his quality and step are unquestionable, but at 39 he lacks pace. Carrillo It has lost that quality due to the natural problems of age. A good choice of names is essential to harm a team that is strong in attack, but has few cracks in defence: both MARQUINOZ-GABRIEL It does not offer many guarantees.

Undoubtedly, Peru will have a tougher challenge on Tuesday: stopping Brazil and its figures. But it is not impossible. It’s up to Reynoso and its leaders to keep adding to it Qualified. It is positive that this Peruvian World Cup team has the experience of facing tough competition. This was demonstrated in Paraguay.