PREVIEW
▲Chile vs Brazil
Chile will be out to derail Brazil’s drive toward a sixth World Cup title here tonight when the South American teams meet in their Round of 16 showdown.
The Chileans are at the World Cup finals for the first time since France 1998, and their negotiation of the group phase is being celebrated by the fans back home as much as the players here.
Now, their 54-year-old coach Marcelo Bielsa is hoping the Brazilians will struggle to find the form which saw them finish the group stage unbeaten.
“Historically, they are a team to fear,” Bielsa says, with the Brazilians having put four goals past the Chileans in their previous meetings in 1962 and 1998 to advance.
Bielsa suggests that today’s Dunga-coached squad is no less dangerous than its forebears after they beat North Korea and the Ivory Coast, but drew with Portugal in Group G.
“This latest version retains all the creative footballing aspects of this country [Brazil] — to which they have added aggression and forcefulness,” he said.
But he added that the Chileans, who pushed Brazil all the way in the 18-match regional qualifying program to reach their first finals since 1998, were determined to pull off a shock and reach the last eight.
“We will do the impossible to ensure that things don’t come to an end too soon for us,” he insisted.
Ten-man Chile had a bittersweet night on Friday as they qualified for the last 16 despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Spain, and will need to pull off the biggest shock of the World Cup so far if they are to beat Brazil.
“We couldn’t be more motivated for the game against Brazil,” forward Jean Beausejour told FIFA.com after midfielder Marco Estrada was sent off against Spain.
Midfielder Rodrigo Miller, who scored Chile’s consolation goal, said it means a lot to the fans as they bid to topple the world’s highest-ranked side.
“We know we’re making the people in Chile happy with what we’re doing here,” said a grinning Millar, whose side are currently ranked 18th in the world.
In contrast, Brazil coach Dunga has yet to grin a smile of satisfaction after any of his side’s three performances here so far, even though the South American giants are undefeated.
Convincing wins over North Korea and the Ivory Coast were followed by an uninspiring goalless draw with Portugal on Friday which Dunga spent in an agitated state, gesticulating wildly and berating his players.
Dunga will welcome back midfield pair Kaka and Elano for Monday’s match at Johannesburg’s Soccer City. Kaka served a one-match ban after being sent off against the Ivory Coast, while Elano was ruled out through injury. Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar believes it will be a difficult test against Chile, but says his side have to keep improving.
“Now a new and more complicated stage in the competition begins and I am certain that Brazil will be ready,” he said. “We have done what we expected to do so far and now we have to focus one game at a time and continue to improve game by game.”
The return of Kaka and Elano will boost Brazil, Inter Milan’s Cesar said.
“They are both crucial players for us and it will be good to have them back in the team for our next game,” the Inter Milan player said.
Brazil striker Luis Fabiano scored twice against Ivory Coast and will be aiming to add to his tally against Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who can expect a busy evening at Soccer City against Brazil’s potent attack.
The South American giants have failed to get out of second gear so far at South Africa 2010, but should have too much fire-power in their squad to be seriously threatened by the Chileans.
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