Brazil's 'foolish' Bruno Guimaraes approach spotted as Newcastle United star's performance rated

With seven games remaining in Brazil's World Cup qualifying campaign, Bruno Guimaraes remains on course to qualify for the 2026 tournament in North America. The only country to have played in every single tournament since its inception in 1930, the five-time winners currently sit third in the CONMEBOL South American qualifying group that compromises 10 teams.

With six nations guaranteed to qualify and the seventh handed a second chance in an inter-federation play-off, it would be a major shock if Brazil were to miss out and that doesn't look like it will be the case again, even if the team are failing to light up qualifying.

Brazil drew away last night in Venezuela with a 1-1 scoreline repeating the same result of the home game played last year. It's a frustrating result for Bruno and his country against a Venezuela side who lie seventh with just two wins so far from their 11 qualifying games.

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Brazil went ahead late in the first half through ex-Leeds United winger Raphinha, only to concede just after the second-half restart. Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior then missed a penalty for the visitors, with Bruno withdrawn on 82 minutes to be replaced by Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli.

Selected to again play a key anchoring role for the Brazil team, Bruno was given a score of six out of ten for his performance by Goal, who wrote; “Always up for the defensive stuff, and flew into tackles with aplomb. Asking him to do much in creative terms is foolish, though.”

The result leave Brazil trailing Colombia in second place by two points, with leaders Argentina a further three points ahead. Next up for Bruno is a game at home against Uruguay in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with the Newcastle man expected to return to England Thursday.

Thankfully for Eddie Howe, a Monday night fixture at home to West Ham will give the United boss extra time with his international players to prepare for the St James' Park clash.