Brazil 3 Venezuela 0
Brazil finally qualified for the World Cup last night, beating Venezuela 3-0 in the final game of a campaign in which they have used four coaches and lost six matches.
Brazil needed a win to guarantee a top four place and avoid a play-off with Australia. They settled their nerves when striker Luizao scored twice in the first 20 minutes.
Rivaldo added the third, his eighth of the competition, in the 35th minute
Venezuela finished with ten men after captain Luis Vera was sent off for elbowing Juninho Paulista in the 48th minute.
The result was a huge relief for the nerve-wracked four-times world champions, who several times during the campaign appeared to be in danger of losing their record as the only country to have played at every World Cup.
"We suffered for 17 games and I thank the Brazilians who suffered with us," said full-back Roberto Carlos.
Captain Emerson Ferreira said: "We still have to improve a lot, we are aware of it. Now we have to work".
- World Cup qualifiers to date
Uefa(14 or 15 places, includes holders) - France (holders), Poland, Sweden, Spain, Russia, Portugal, Denmark, Croatia, Italy, England, Slovenia, Turkey, Belgium, Germany (plus Republic of Ireland if they beat Iran in play-off)
Asia- (2 or 3 plus co-hosts) Korea Republic (co-hosts), Japan (co-hosts), China, Saudi Arabia (plus Iran if they beat Republic of Ireland in play-off)
Africa- (5) South Africa, Cameroon, Senegal, Tunisia & Nigeria
Central America- (3) Costa Rica, United States & Mexico
South America- (4 or 5) Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador and Brazil (plus Uruguay if they beat Australia in two-legged play-off on November 20th and 25th)
Oceania- Australia, if they beat Uruguay in two-legged play-off on November 20th and 25th