The Selecao of Brazil take on La Roja today at the Belo Horizonte in a game that sees Chile as the supreme underdogs. That’s not to say that these particular underdogs don’t have any bite; indeed seeing them in the last sixteen is a big, if pleasant surprise. For Brazil, Chelsea defender David Luiz took a knock to his back during training but will be expected to make selection. Paulinho is likely to be selected in midfield ahead of an increasingly impatient and competitive Fernandinho, with Scolari exclaiming earlier in the week “I have blind faith in Paulinho.” In the Chilean ranks, a muscle strain is making Gary Medel a doubt for today’s match, but he is working hard to be fit for selection. There are a total of eight players across both teams who are on yellow cards, including Vidal, Silva, Mena and Aranguiz for Chile, and Thiago Silva, Ramires, Neymar and Gustavo for Brazil. A yellow for any of these players today would see them out of the quarter finals, should their team triumph.
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Brazil have an impressive record against La Roja over the last 95 years. In almost a century, Chile have not beaten Brazil on their home turf, but Brazil will still be wary of this chilean team, and rightly so. Their aggressive pressing and high intensity tackling and running will be a stone in the shoe of Brazil, however that style of play generally leaves teams open for the counter, and Brazil love to do that. Chile don’t have a great record against Selecao at the WOrld cup, having lost to them three times at this tournament so far. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will leave nothing to chance however.
Speaking to the press he said: “Statistics mean nothing. I believe since Coach Sampaoli arrived, the Chile team have a new dynamism, a much better performance. The players have adapted to the scheme he thinks fits best, and they have adapted perfectly.” He also admitted frankly that would have preferred to have met this Chile team much later, rather than sooner, given that his side haven’t really gotten out of the starting blocks yet. Given that the tournament is being held in the home of the most successful World Cup team in the world, there is an almost unspoken expectation on their shoulders to win the sixth title their nation craves. Scolari said: “I try to transmit my confidence to the team and to our fans but no one can be at ease. It is normal for us to feel that we have some problem, something that makes us anxious especially now in the knockout stage where we cannot lose. Not because it is in Brazil but because it is a World Cup. You only get a chance to get to the final if you win.”
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Chilean Alexis Sanchez said: “We have respect for them, but I think we are going to beat them. We came to this World Cup to make history. We beat the world champions, and although we had a slip-up against Holland, we are going out to try and win the Cup.”
Possible Lineups:
Brazil (4-2-3-1): Júlio César; Marcelo, David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Dani Alves; Luiz Gustavo, Fernandinho; Neymar, Oscar, Hulk; Fred.
Chile (3-4-1-2): Claudio Bravo; Gonzalo Jara, Gary Medel, Francisco Silva; Eugenio Mena, Marcelo Díaz, Charles Aránguiz, Mauricio Isla; Arturo Vidal; Eduardo Vargas, Alexis Sánchez.
Prediction: Brazil 3 – 1 Chile at $12.00 with Bet365 – Join Now for a $200 FREE BET – Limited Offer
