Match preview: Chile vs Brazil

Round of 16

Chile vs Brazil
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Mon June 28, 7.30pm BST

Chile welcomes back holding playmaker Matias Fernandez and midfielder Carlos Carmona after suspension.

Brazil is advanced by the come back of Kaka, back from suspension, to replace Julio Baptista.

They said

Marcelo Bielsa: “This newest version retains all the creative footballing aspects of this country (Brazil) - to which they have added violence and strength. We will do the impossible to make sure that things don't come to an end too quickly for us.”

Dunga: “The players passed a harsh test against Ivory Coast. They showed a lot of adulthood because they got hit from the beginning to the end and never hit back.”

Teams

Chile (3-3-1-3): Bravo; Fuentes Suazo, Vidal; Contreras, Carmona, Isla; Fernandez; Gonzalez, Sanchez, Beausejour.

Brazil (4-4-2): Cesar; Juan, Maicon, Lucio, Bastos; Gilberto Silva, Elano, Melo, Kaka; Luis Fabiano, Robinho.

Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Previous Meetings

Played: 65

Wins Chile 7, Draws 12, Brazil 46

WC: Chile 0, Draws 0, Brazil 2

WCQ: Chile 0, Draws 2, 1Brazil 7

Last Five Meetings

2007: Brazil 4 Chile 2
2007: Brazil 3 Chile 0
2007: Brazil 6 Chile 1
2010: Chile 0 Brazil 3
2010: Brazil 4 Chile 2

Match preview: Brazil vs Ivory Coast

Group G
Brazil vs Ivory Coast
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg

Didier Drogba is set to start for the Ivory Coast after 15 days undergoing surgery on a broken arm and that would be a huge advance for a side that has already taken a point off Portugal. Drogba made a differentiation when he came on late in the 0-0 draw and Brazil, having been stretched out by North Korea, will be conscious of his threat in this most changeable of World Cups.
Brazil could keep belief with the side that won 2-1 against North Korea in advance of the final game, against Portugal.

Dunga vs Sven Goran Eriksson: A conflict of styles, both in dress sense and tactics.
The Brazilian leaves behind his fisherman’s jumper and black overcoat, because Eriksson just looks fashionable, whoever he coaches.
Erikson reached the quarter-finals with England; this time his task is superior but he will have the self-confidence to out-think Dunga.
Brazil has scored in 23 consecutive group matches at the World Cup and will wish for to keep that record.
The Ivory Coast improved significantly when Didier Drogba came on against Portugal but, at the other end, Boubacar Barry, Ivory Coast’s agile goalkeeper, can be expecting a busy 90 minutes.

Julio Cesar vs Didier Drogba: In Julio Cesar, Brazil boasts the most excellent goalkeeper at the finals, though North Korea proved he is not unconquerable.
Drogba was on firer for Chelsea and his country before breaking his arm.
But he proved he has improved with a late cameo role against Portugal and, on his side, he is able score against any goalkeeper in the world.

They said
Dunga: "I believe the first match is always trying, there was a lot of anxiety and nervousness out there. We all want to score and not give up any goals. I am not completely happy with the result; we weren't passing as quickly as I would have loved. But the spirits of these players are willing to learn and are strong."
Sven-Goran Eriksson: "It is going to be a hard game, but looking at what we did against Portugal, we are proficient of creating a surprise against Brazil."

Teams
Brazil (4-2-3-1): Julio Cesar; Juan, Michel Bastos, Maicon, Lucio; Felipe Melo, Gilberto Silva; Kaka, Robinho, Elano; Luis Fabiano.

Ivory Coast (4-1-2-3): Barry; Zokora, Tiene, Demel, K Toure; Y Toure; Tiote, Eboue; Drogba, Kalou, Gervinho.

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France).

Group G: death Group

The World Cup's Group G with Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast struggle for two places while North Korea gives attention to on damage limitation.

Brazil have lifted the cup that symbolizes universal football incomparability a record five times, Portugal completed fourth at the last tournament in 2006 and many scholars consider Ivory Coast the best African bet for brilliance.

And whereas North Korea is universally regarded as 'cannon fodder', none of the 32 teams has organized more systematically than the little known squad from the isolated nation. Superstars abound in the first-round 'Group of Death' as Brazil boasts Kaka, while Portugal is inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba ranks beside them in probable impact but the striker's chances of playing in the first World Cup on African soil hang in the balance after surgery on a broken arm. The Ivorians are desperate for Drogba to get well in time.

The opening Group G play on Tuesday between Ivory Coast and Portugal in Port Elizabeth may perhaps decide who else progresses with European champions Spain the probable second-round opponents for the second-placed finisher.

Coach Dunga has assembled a strategically tidy squad that espouses the work ethic and plays as a team with no position for the prima-donna issue that cost Brazil extremely in the past.

Dunga left out Ronaldinho, but Kaka is rounding into form after a poor entrance season in Madrid.

Portugal needed a oppose against Bosnia-Herzogovina to arrive at South Africa after a qualifying campaign in which midfielder-cum-striker Ronaldo unsuccessful to score in seven matches before being sidelined by injury.

Queiroz though was satisfied to see Real Madrid defensive midfielder Pepe back after six months out with a knee injury. The coach said "It's fantastic. With the help of Real Madrid's doctors, the Portuguese federation and the technical staff of the national team, we have done a meticulous job".

Luck has dealt Ivory Coast a malicious World Cup hand twice after receiving the Netherlands and Argentina in Germany four years ago, and the late choice of former England supremo Sven Goran Eriksson as coach barely boosts continuity.