Brazil book place in style
Brazil maintained their record of being the only nation to qualify for every World Cup finals tournament by booking their place in Germany next year with a thrilling 5-0 win over Chile.
The Brazilians were at their brilliant best as they got the qualification party started early by netting four times within the opening half-hour.
Defender Juan’s glancing header put Brazil ahead from an 11th-minute corner and that was soon followed by a superb flowing move involving Ze Roberto, Adriano, Kaka and then Ronaldo, whose clever lay-off allowed the oncoming Robinho to tap home the second goal.
Adriano then scored two in two minutes, first a left-footed drive that angled across goal and went in off the far post and then a near-post header from a corner, before Brazil eased up.
Eventually Adriano made it a memorable afternoon on a personal level too by completing his hat-trick in stoppage time with another left-footed strike.
For the first time, the reigning World Cup winners did not qualify for the next tournament automatically, but Brazil have had little trouble getting through the South American qualifying group.
With two qualifiers remaining they have followed Argentina, the group leaders, in booking their place in Germany.
“We are very happy with the qualification to the World Cup and I’m very satisfied with the performance of the team,” said Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
“I expected a complicated game, but we scored quickly and with those goals we decided the game.”
