Day 17 match previews and stats: BRA vs CHI, COL vs URU

June 27 – The peculiar feeling of a rest day has settled around the world before the World Cup gets down to last 16 business, the calm before the storm begins again. The opening two knockout matches are all Latin American affairs featuring two of the most exciting teams in the World Cup so far, Colombia and Chile. Brazil are playing as well. As are a toothless-looking Uruguay.

Brazil vs Chile

Brazil who have so far failed to fully ignite, meet a Chilean side on fire. They have played each other more than 75 times over the ast 90 years.

Riding their luck, referee ‘help’, and fuelled by the brilliance of Neymar, the Brazilians have still to join the celebrations at their own Carnival in quite the style that the rest of the world expects of a Brazilian team (and with the ‘joy’ that Brazilians crave).

But there are signs that things might be changing. Fred has muscled his way on to the scoresheet at last and Fernandinho promised much when he entered as sub in the last game against Cameroon and scored. The forward line Neymar, Oscar and Hulk supporting Fred will likely start again – after all, they are winning matches.

Key for the Brazilians will be whether they can break up the fast, accurate passing game of the Chileans. Alexis Sanchez is their fulcrum going forward in the way that Arturo Vidal has been their Spartacus of the defensive organisation. The quick feet of Vargas and Diaz are ever present.

Chile outplayed World Cup holders Spain and on their day could do the same to tournament favourites Brazil.
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Head to Head games
08/07/16 Chile v Brazil 1-1 (Copa America)
12/10/17 Brazil v Chile 5-0 (Copa America)
11/05/19 Brazil v Chile 6-0 (Copa America)
11/09/20 Chile v Brazil 0-1 (Copa America)
17/09/22 Brazil v Chile 1-1 (Copa America)
03/01/37 Brazil v Chile 6-4 (Copa America)
14/01/42 Brazil v Chile 6-1 (Copa America)
28/02/45 Chile v Brazil 0-1 (Copa America)
03/02/46 Brazil v Chile 5-1 (Copa America)
13/04/49 Brazil v Chile 2-1 (Copa America)
20/04/52 Chile v Brazil 0-3 (Panamerican Championship)
23/03/53 Brazil v Chile 3-2 (Copa America)
28/02/54 Chile v Brazil 0-2 (World Cup)
14/03/54 Brazil v Chile 1-0 (World Cup)
18/09/55 Brazil v Chile 1-1 (Torneo Bernardo O Higgins)
20/09/55 Brazil v Chile 2-1 (Torneo Bernardo O Higgins)
24/01/56 Brazil v Chile 1-4 (Copa America)
01/03/56 Brazil v Chile 2-1 (Panamerican Championship)
13/03/57 Brazil v Chile 4-2 (Copa America)
15/09/57 Chile v Brazil 1-0 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
18/09/57 Chile v Brazil 1-1 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
15/03/59 Brazil v Chile 3-0 (Copa America)
17/09/59 Brazil v Chile 7-0 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
20/09/59 Brazil v Chile 1-0 (Trofeu Bernardo)
29/06/60 Brazil v Chile 4-0 (International)
07/05/61 Chile v Brazil 1-2 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
11/05/61 Chile v Brazil 0-1 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
25/01/62 Brazil v Chile 3-2 (SA NOVOS)
13/06/62 Chile v Brazil 2-4 (World Cup)
17/04/66 Chile v Brazil 0-1 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
20/04/66 Chile v Brazil 2-1 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
15/05/66 Brazil v Chile 1-1 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
19/05/66 Brazil v Chile 1-0 (Copa Bernardo O Higgins)
19/09/67 Chile v Brazil 0-1 (International)
22/03/70 Brazil v Chile 5-0 (International)
26/03/70 Brazil v Chile 2-1 (International)
04/10/70 Chile v Brazil 1-5 (International)
24/06/80 Brazil v Chile 2-1 (International)
14/03/81 Brazil v Chile 2-1 (International)
26/08/81 Chile v Brazil 0-0 (International)
28/04/83 Brazil v Chile 3-2 (International)
28/07/83 Chile v Brazil 0-0 (International)
21/05/85 Chile v Brazil 2-1 (International)
08/06/85 Brazil v Chile 3-1 (International)
06/05/86 Brazil v Chile 1-1 (International)
06/12/86 Chile v Brazil 0-1 (South American Games)
03/07/87 Chile v Brazil 4-0 (Copa America)
09/12/87 Brazil v Chile 2-1 (International)
13/08/89 Chile v Brazil 1-1 (World Cup)
03/09/89 Brazil v Chile 1-0 (World Cup)
17/10/90 Chile v Brazil 0-0 (International)
08/11/90 Brazil v Chile 0-0 (International)
21/07/91 Chile v Brazil 0-2 (Copa America)
21/06/93 Brazil v Chile 2-3 (Copa America)
02/04/97 Brazil v Chile 4-0 (International)
27/06/98 Brazil v Chile 4-1 (World Cup)
06/07/99 Brazil v Chile 1-0 (Copa America)
15/08/00 Chile v Brazil 3-0 (World Cup)
07/10/01 Brazil v Chile 2-0 (World Cup)
06/06/04 Chile v Brazil 1-1 (World Cup)
08/07/04 Brazil v Chile 1-0 (Copa America)
04/09/05 Brazil v Chile 5-0 (World Cup)
24/03/07 Brazil v Chile 4-0 (International)
01/07/07 Brazil v Chile 3-0 (Copa America)
07/07/07 Brazil v Chile 6-1 (Copa America)
07/09/08 Chile v Brazil 0-3 (World Cup)
09/09/09 Brazil v Chile 4-2 (World Cup)
28/06/10 Brazil v Chile 3-0 (World Cup)
24/04/13 Brazil v Chile 2-2 (International)
19/11/13 Brazil v Chile 2-1 (International)

FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Brazil: Rank: 3 Points: 1242
Chile: Rank: 14 Points: 1026

World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Brazil
Qualified as hosts
Chile
Third in CONMEBOL Group with 28 points (P16 W9 D1 L6 GF29 GA25)

Brazil v Chile stats
Brazil have won all 3 previous World Cup matches versus Chile, (4-2 in the semi-final in 1962, 4-1 in Round 2 in 1998 and 3-0 in Round 2 in 2010).
In their last 9 matches against Chile, Brazil have never scored less than 2 goals (and 32 goals in total.)
Brazil have won their last 5 second round matches at the World Cup (since losing to Argentina in 1990.)
In 20 attempts Chile have never beaten Brazil in Brazil (W0 D6 L20).
Brazil are on an unbeaten run of 40 home matches (their last defeat being against Paraguay in August 2002.)

Columbia vs Uruguay

Colombia, even without injured striker Radamel Falcao, have become a must-watch team at Brazil 2014 under Argentine coaching legend Jose Pekermann. In Falcao’s absence James Rodriguez has stepped up with three goals and two assists.

Rodriguez, Mario Yepes and Carlos Carbonero were all rested for the last game and are all expected to return.

Jackson Martinez who took his chance and scored twice in the 4-1 win over Japan could hold on to his starting place.

Uruguay’s reaction to the Luis Suarez ban will be a swaying factor. The team looked toothless without him in losing their opening game to Costa Rica, but they may have been galvanised into finding their own bite subsequently.

While the focus was on Suarez’s goals when he returned, the contribution of Edinson Cavani up front should not be overlooked and they still have old war horse Diego Forlan to add some guile and quality.

This is now knockout cup football that often favours the brave and where the formbook can often account for very little.

In defence the Uruguayans also have quality in Diego Godin who can also score goals. It would be foolish to write off this team as that is very much what they have become with the events to date having galvanised their team ethic.