Why does Brazil make such a difference from the rest of South America?

Brazil is a machine. To win, above all. The game is wonderful ... only occasionally. In São Paulo, they beat Colombia 1-0 and are classified for the World Cup in Qatar. It is the first South American team to qualify for the highest competition on the planet.

On Tuesday, in San Juan, the giants are going to meet again, after the failed elimination match and, above all, after the historic Olympic return at the Maracana. Again Brazil against Argentina, although now it will suffer the loss of Casemiro, admonished.

In a way, Brazil has two teams. Tite keeps them on their toes: very few, truly, are essential headlines. Casemiro, the titan of the midfield, Neymar, an extraordinary one, beyond his lapses. Marquinhos and Thiago Silva, the centrals and some more.

The rest, come and go, with similar quality. Alisson and Ederson, the archers. Alex Sandro and Renan Lodi, wingers on the left. Gabriel Jesús, Vinicius or Firmino, the number 9 and the payroll is endless. Now, Paquetá and Raphinha, for example, are two essentials. In the pursuit of excellence, Tité rotates, does not have a memory computer.

Perhaps, by insisting on that path, Brazil goes up and down. It shines for a while, it fades. He's rarely in danger, but it doesn't translate to his full potential on the field. Fake, much more than what he specifies. Anyway, it's the best in this part of the world, the numbers represent it.