(ESP-ENG) Todo es cuestión de FE!

Hello friends, good vibes to all.

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They say that faith moves mountains but what the national team moved yesterday was more than that, yesterday they managed to activate the hearts of some 30 million people who were paralyzed when Eduard Bello decided to do the impossible, a Chilean goal to Ederson on Brazilian soil to get a tie which the country celebrated like nothing had been celebrated in Venezuela for a long time. As "Bocha" Batista said before and after the game: "we did not come here for a walk" and so it was, last night I saw a team that was more than functional defensively, something that was the Vinotinto's pending issue.

Venezuela arrived at this new matchday with three points in fifth place, which was very good for our expectations. Besides trying to get the job done in Brazil, we had to keep an eye on the other matches. There were results that were more or less useful for us in view of what is to come and how complicated these qualifiers are. My thought, or at least that was until yesterday, is that those who are always on top win, say Argentina, Brazil and those who accompany them at the top of the table, the thing is that what is being seen in this classification is that everything is impressively even because those teams like Uruguay, Colombia and Chile itself are not playing their best game. The world champions and Ecuador are the ones that I would say are being more consistent and, well, why not include Venezuela as well.

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But well, the Vinotinto arrived at the Pantanal Arena in Cuiaba with the illusion of playing a good game, a correct one and I assume with the purpose of not letting Brazil beat us. The first surprise for everyone was the incorporation of Christian Makoun at left back as a replacement for Miguel Navarro, who had been a beast against Paraguay. I understand that this change was made because Navarro has a yellow card and because he is more offensive than Makoun, something that was not much needed against Brazil. I had my doubts, I'm not going to lie, but he started the match and the truth is that the New England player looked pretty good on that flank, Brazil did not attack much on that side but when he had to appear he did it without problems.

In fact, what should be highlighted from yesterday is the whole defensive saga, the eternal headache of the Vinotinto. With Batista it seems that things are being corrected and they are more and more cohesive and compact, the last matches they have been a real wall but above all orderly and with clear ideas. The central defenders Wilker Angel and Yordan Osorio were better than ever, especially the latter who was the real head of this block, leader in clearances, recoveries, intersections and who had Neymar on "bread and water". Impressive how the Brazilian star never felt comfortable in the game, he was never able to do what he is used to do on the field and all this was thanks to a very organized defense. In fact, in the three games we have had they have come from less to more.

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Against Colombia I still maintain that Alexander Gonzalez did not have the best game but the change against Paraguay and yesterday against Brazil was abysmal. The work of the Caracas FC player on the right wing, Vinicius Jr's wing, was exemplary and to be highlighted. If Neymar was not seeing light in front of the central defenders, Vini was in a deep tunnel, he could never make the overflows that he always does in Real Madrid because in front of him was the retaining wall of Gonzalez. And it was so much so that the Brazilian was taken off in the second half due to the ineffectiveness of his game, he was completely annulled. Brazil had possession, which was expected, but they were not effective or convincing, the danger to Romo's goal came, apart from the goal, in two or three occasions only.

Another good thing that happened yesterday was Batista's reading of the game, I am talking about the second half. All the changes he made, which were five, worked perfectly. Soteldo gave more life and mobility to the attack, Cristian Cáceres and Moreno refreshed the defensive midfield and did their job, while Savarino and Bello, the brains behind the goal, came in to look, along with Soteldo, for new ideas and a little more possession in the last quarter of the field in front of goal. Moreover, if you watch the last few minutes you will notice that Venezuela was able to rotate the ball well to get closer and generate some corners and danger to keep the ball away from their goal.

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The topic of FAITH for many is a meme, they see it corny but friends, after yesterday's game when the Peruvian referee gives the final whistle I can tell you that seeing how the game is being played, the mood of the players, the connection there is with the coach and most importantly, the support of the fans to the entire selection, give that FAITH that is so much talked about is still intact. It is well known that nothing can be achieved with good wishes or praying, everything has to be accompanied by hard work and that this is materialized on the court taking care of the fundamentals. Now, when all this is in place and with our sights set on the objective, I believe that we can allow ourselves to dream and appeal to FAITH.

There is still a long way to go, this is just the beginning and now we have to maintain the harmony and the game we have shown. Venezuela plays on Tuesday against Chile here in Maturin, we are twice as strong at home because we have the fans supporting us. Chile is not doing well, they are going through an important moment of transition and we have to take advantage of that vulnerability. We have to win if we want to make yesterday's draw worthwhile; it has always been said, if you want to get to the World Cup you have to be strong at home. See you on Tuesday and well: "Mano, I have faith".

Well my people that's all for today, I hope you liked it.
¡Hugs to all, see you next time!