Bruno Guimaraes brilliant Brazil performance – Stunning assist and goal (video)

A sixth appearance for Brazil, only his second start, Bruno Guimaraes took full advantage.

A superb 90 minutes from the Newcastle United midfielder as he scored a quality right foot volley and his assist for the opening goal was arguably even better.

A great night all round for Bruno Guimaraes and it was perfection, with the Newcastle player creating the opening goal for his big mate Lucas Paqueta and then Bruno’s former Lyon teammate returning the compliment when laying on Guimaraes’ first goal for his country (watch both goals below in the video highlights).

Bruno Guimaraes had got an assist in each of his last two World Cup qualifying games for Brazil and this time showed his full array of talents when getting a rare 90 minutes.

Bolivia actually created a fair few chances of their own but the quality in the final third of the Newcastle man and his international teammates was on another level.

Paqueta scoring his goal via the Bruno Guimaraes assist on 24 minutes, whilst the Newcastle midfielder scored the third goal on 66 minutes. Richarlison of Everton getting the other two on 45 minutes and in the first minute of added time after the 90 were up.

In these video highlights below, you can see the excellent Bruno assist at2.50, then his right foot volleyed goal at 7.22. Guimaraes also played a key role in the final goal, go to 7.50 to see that.

SofaScore Brazil with these two illustrations of the Bruno Guimaraes impact in this 4-0 win over Bolivia…

…as well as his impact overall in his last three appearances (one start and two sub appearances) for Brazil:

Elsewhere, the final group match for Paraguay and a lame 2-0 defeat to Peru, the defeat in Lima saw Miguel Almiron missing from the squad due to suspension.

Lame would also be an apt description for Paraguay’s world cup qualifying campaign overall, as before Thursday’s win against Ecuador, the most recent seven group games before that had seen five defeats and two draws.

This is how Paraguay’s final placing looks in the South American qualifying group:

The top four automatically qualify for Qatar, Bruno Guimaraes and Brazil easily topping the group and joined by Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador. Whilst Peru now go into an all or nothing play-off against the winners of Oceanian qualifying, that (Oceanian qualifying) will be settled tonight when Chris Wood and New Zealand take on the Solomon Islands.

Almiron and Paraguay have ended up eight points off that play-off spot and nine points off automatic qualification.

Newcastle United players on international duty in March 2022

Monday 21 March

New Zealand 4 Fiji 0 World Cup qualifier (played at neutral venue in Qatar)

Chris Wood scored twice and went on to 30 goals for his country, making him New Zealand’s top goalscorer ever.

Thursday 24 March

New Zealand 7 New Caledonia 1 World Cup qualifier (played at neutral venue in Qatar)

The Kiwis brought the Newcastle United January signing on in the 71st minute and he still scored two goals, which makes it eight goals for Chris Wood in his last six appearances for New Zealand. Those goals in the 7-1 demolition job on New Caledonia, means that Chris Wood is now on 32 goals for New Zealand, three clear of the next highest in the national team’s history.

Brazil 4 Chile 0 World Cup qualifier

Coming off the bench after 82 minutes when replacing Manchester United’s Fred and the score at 3-0, Bruno Guimaraes was swiftly into the thick of the action.

In the first minute of injury time the Newcastle midfielder threaded a pass through to Richarlison and the Everton striker supplied an excellent left foot finish to make it 4-0. Brazil are unbeaten in the group, long since qualified for Qatar and now all but certain to finish top of the group ahead of Argentina.

Paraguay 3 Ecuador 1 World Cup qualifier

After a dismal run of five defeats and two draws in their last seven South American group qualifiers, a rare bit of positivity for Paraguay and Miguel Almiron.

With chances of qualifying for Qatar long gone, second bottom of the (10 team) group Paraguay beat third top Ecuador 3-1.

An excellent performance from Miguel Almiron seeing him crown his display with some excellent footwork on the edge of the box and a sweet left foot finish into the bottom corner.

Sweden 1 Czech Republic 0 World Cup qualifier

Sweden won their play-off semi-final and now will play Poland on Tuesday (29 March) night, the winner guaranteed a place at the World Cup finals in Qatar later this year. Emil Krafth missed this game due to suspension but will be back available on Tuesday.

Friday 25 March

Norway 2 Slovakia 0 Friendly

Martin Dubravka not involved due to injury / illness, has withdrawn from the squad.

Saturday 26 March Friendly

England 2 Switzerland 1

Fabian Schar wasn’t involved, as withdrawn from the squad due to injury.

Sunday 27 March World Cup qualifier (played at neutral venue in Qatar)

New Zealand 1 Tahiti 0, Chris Wood playing the full 90 minutes but not scoring on this occasion.

Tuesday 29 March World Cup qualifier

Poland 2 Sweden 0 (Emil Krafth)

A World Cup play-off final decider with the winner on the night qualifying for the finals in Qatar and ending in disaster for Emil Krafth.

Finland 0 Slovakia 2 Friendly

Martin Dubravka wasn’t involved due to injury / illness, having withdrawn from the squad, as Slovakia picked up an impressive away win.

Switzerland 1 Kosovo 1 Friendly

Switzerland played out a disappointing draw at home but Fabian Schar wasn’t be involved, as he was withdrawn from the squad due to injury.

Peru 2 Paraguay 0 World Cup qualifier (Kick-off was 12.30am UK time)

The final group match for Paraguay and a lame 2-0 defeat to Peru, the defeat in Lima saw Miguel Almiron missing from the squad due to suspension.

Bolivia 0 Brazil 4 World Cup qualifier (Kick-off was 12.30am UK time)

A sixth appearance for Brazil, only his second start, Bruno Guimaraes took full advantage.

A superb 90 minutes from the Newcastle United midfielder as he scored a quality right foot volley and his assist for the opening goal was arguably even better.

A great night all round for Bruno Guimaraes and it was perfection, with the Newcastle player creating the opening goal for his big mate Lucas Paqueta and then Bruno’s former Lyon teammate returning the compliment when laying on Guimaraes first goal for his country.

Wednesday 30 March (played at neutral venue in Qatar)

New Zealand v Solomon Islands World Cup qualifier

Chris Wood and his teammates must win this play-off final qualifier to decide who tops Oceanian qualifying. The winner of this game will then play the country who finishes fourth in CONCACAF qualifying, which looks set to almost certainly be Costa Rica. That game to be played on June 13 or June 14, with the winner then qualifying for the World Cup finals in Qatar.