Altitude 2 -1 Brazil

There’s nothing that can be demanded from Dunga and his players.

The team was already qualified, which turned the match against Bolivia into a open lab in the skies. The skies of La Paz took the reserve side of Brazil closer to hell than heaven. The 3600 meters above sea level suffocated the players. And no, I’m not opposed to games up there.

Julio Cesar suddenly became slower than the ball. Maicon lacked the energy to be the attacking piece so famous in around the world. The defense lost the tempo and heading a ball became a highly complex task. Two goals in two set-pieces expose all this.

There’s nothing too critical that can be said. But Nilmar and Daniel Alves deserve praise for running as if they were in Rio or Sao Paulo. Diego Tardelli moved well. And Alex and Diego Souza were tested. The mission was accomplished.

The bad news is that the 19 matches undefeated are in the past. And the 28 years without a victory in Bolivia for the World Cup qualifying remain. Those, however, are just details.