Brazil continues turnaround, faces Uruguay on cusp of World Cup qualification

SAO PAULO (AP) — The last time Brazil's national team won six World Cup qualifiers in a row, it went on to lift the trophy in 1970 in Mexico—its second of five titles.

Coach Tite's team is far from that level, and Neymar is not Pele. But a victory in Uruguay on Thursday could secure Brazil's place at next year's World Cup in Russia. If not, qualification should follow next week against Paraguay.

One thing is clear: after its biggest humiliation, Brazil is back.

The 7-1 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinals has become an increasingly distant memory since Brazil beat top sides such as Argentina and Colombia. The emergence of new players like striker Gabriel Jesus has also helped to motivate the squad after its crushing defeat.

Under new coach Tite, Brazil is now so confident of its prospects that it has scheduled a friendly away to Germany next year.

Even teams that used to brag about having a positive record against Brazil now sound more concerned. That's the case with Uruguay and Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, who will face Brazil on Thursday in Montevideo.

March FIFA International Window Watchability Rankings: Top 10 must-see games

"The difficult moment that Brazil went through taught them lessons. They have a new way of playing and they made changes that brought more balance, more continuity to their national team," Cavani told reporters.

Brazilian players have the same feeling.

"Wherever I go with Inter Milan now they say good things about us, ask about our coach," defender Miranda said. "The opponents now feel that this is the Brazil of always. A team widely respected, strong and always a candidate to achieve big things."

Before September, many Brazilians feared their team would not qualify for the World Cup for the first time. Since then, a more intense and creative style has emerged. It has produced six wins in six matches and 17 goals in South American qualifiers. Fourteen of those came after assists, a sign that Brazilian teamwork has improved.

Brazil has also conceded just one goal in that stretch, an own-goal in a 2-1 victory over Colombia.

The old reliance on Neymar has vanished. Striker Jesus, who will miss the next matches because of a broken toe, scored five goals in World Cup qualifiers, one more than the Barcelona star. Midfielder Philippe Coutinho added another two goals, arriving from spaces opened up by the front duo. Six other players also scored.

The number of exchanged passes also points to a different Brazil in Russia next year.

Under former coach Dunga, the average was 431 passes per game, according to figures from Brazil's football confederation. Now it's 474. Scoring opportunities have also risen, from 12.5 to 14.5, and players have said the coach's 4-1-4-1 tactics allow them to create much higher-quality chances, and closer to goal.

Several national team coaches have praised Brazil's form, including Germany's Joachim Loew and Argentina's Edgardo Bauza. The most recent is Uruguay's Oscar Tabarez.

"Brazil leads the pack, they are playing great football," Tabarez told a news conference. "They have more than Neymar. They have midfielders that recover the ball and score. They will be in contention in Russia."

Best photos of Neymar

Neymar attends a training session for Brazil ahead of the Copa America on June 27, 2011 in Campana, Argentina.

Neymar controls the ball during Brazil's Copa America match against Venezuela on July 3, 2011 in La Plata, Argentina.

Brazil's past and present: Pele and Neymar at a Santos FC commemoration match in 2012.

Neymar celebrates at the end of Santos' Sao Paulo state league final match against Guarani on May 13, 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Santos won 4-2.

Neymar heads the ball during Brazil's gold medal match against Mexico on Aug. 11, 2012 in the Summer Olympics at Wembley Stadium in London. Brazil lost 2-1.

Neymar celebrates after scoring in Brazil's FIFA Confederations Cup match against Japan on June 15, 2013 at Estadio Nacional in Brazil. Brazil won 3-0.

Neymar celebrates with Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas after Messi scored his third goal against Valencia during their La Liga match on Sept. 1, 2013 at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain.

Neymar celebrates after scoring Barcelona's first goal during a first leg quarterfinal Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on April 1, 2014 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar looks to throw-in the ball during Brazil's International Friendly match against Panama on June 03, 2014 at Serra Dourada Stadium in Goiania, Brazil.

Neymar of Brazil poses during the official FIFA World Cup 2014 portrait session on June 8, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Neymar celebrates a goal during Brazil's World Cup match against Croatia on June 12, 2014 at the Arena de Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Neymar plays the ball during Brazil's World Cup match against Cameroon on June 23, 2014 at Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil.

Neymar lies injured while teammate Marcelo appeals during Brazil's World Cup quarterfinal match against Colombia on July 4, 2014 at Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Neymar answers a question from the media as his eyes well up with tears during a press conference on July 10, 2014 at the Granja Comary training center in Teresopolis, Brazil. Neymar suffered a broken vertebrae during the World Cup match against Colombia one week earlier.

Neymar tries to get around Enzo Roco during Barcelona's Copa del Rey match against Elche CF on Jan. 8, 2016 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar celebrates with Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi after scoring against Atletico Madrid during their La Liga match on Jan. 11, 2015 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar scores a goal for Barcelona against Atletico de Madrid's Jan Oblak during their Copa del Rey quarterfinal match on Jan. 28, 2015 at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid, Spain.

Neymar celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi after Messi scored during Barcelona's La Liga match against SD Eibar on March 14, 2015 at Ipurua Municipal Stadium in Eibar, Spain.

Neymar heads the ball to score his second goal during Barcolona's Champions League quarterfinal match against Paris Saint-Germain on April 21, 2015 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar poses with La Liga trophy after Barcelona's match against Deportivo La Coruña on May 23, 2015 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar lifts the trophy following Barcelona's UEFA Champions League Final match against Juventus on June 6, 2015 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany.

Neymar celebrates after scoring during Barcelona's La Liga match against Getafe on Oct. 31, 2015 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez in Getafe, Spain.

Neymar scores during Barcelona's La Liga match against Real Sociedad on Nov. 28, 2015 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar plays the ball during Barcelona's La Liga match against Espanyol on Jan. 2, 2016 at Cornella-El Prat Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar celebrates scoring a goal during Barcelona's Copa del Rey match against Espanyol on Jan. 6, 2016 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar celebrates with Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi after Messi scored against Sevilla during their La Liga match on Feb. 28, 2016 at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain.

Neymar scores the winning penalty kick during the gold medal game between Brazil and Germany on Aug. 20, 2016 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Neymar collapses to the ground overcome with emotion after his decisive penalty kick clinched Brazil's first Olympic gold medal in soccer on Aug. 20, 2016 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Neymar soaks up the love after leading Brazil to the Olympic gold medal on Aug. 20, 2016 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bolivia goalie Carlos Emilio Lampe checks on Neymar as he kneels on the pitch with his face bleeding after receiving an elbow to the face by Bolivia's Yasmani Duk during Brazil's 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifier on Oct. 6, 2016 in Natal, Brazil.

Neymar plays the ball against Nicolas Otamendi and Pablo Zabaleta during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifier between Brazil and Argentina on Nov. 10, 2016 at Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Philippe Coutinho, Neymar and Gabriel Jesus celebrate a goal against Argentina during Brazil's 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifier on Nov. 10, 2016 at Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Brazil was much less impressive under Dunga, who was fired in June 2016. He took over from Luiz Felipe Scolari after the debacle against Germany in Belo Horizonte in 2014.

Brazil was languishing in sixth place in the 10-team qualifying standings for South America before September, following two wins, three draws and one loss. The team had scored 11 goals and conceded eight. Fans booed not only the bad results, but also the predictable game plan.

Now Brazil is top of the standings, with a four-point lead over second-place Uruguay.

Under Tite, the defense has become rock solid with Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Miranda and Marcelo, a back four that also has the protection of midfielder Casemiro.

However, goalkeeper Alisson, until recently a reserve at Roma, is still seen as a liability.

The rest of Tite's midfield is yet to be figured out, with Paulinho, Fernandinho and Renato Augusto fighting for two positons. Liverpool's Coutinho meanwhile faces competition from Chelsea's Willian.

But Brazil's quality of play and the string of victories in recent World Cup qualifier give Tite enormous latitude.

A World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994 and Scolari's assistant in the 7-1 German hammering, Carlos Alberto Parreira calls Tite "a magician or a wizard."

"We went from out of the World Cup to first place," he said in a recent interview with ESPN Brasil. "Brazil is now finishing these qualifiers as a favorite for the World Cup title."