HEAD TO HEAD: Brazil Wins 13 Chile Wins 2 Draws 1 Referee: Howard Webb (ENG) Two fierce rivals come together in this clash. In the past Brazil have always had the upper hand psychologically over Chile. Tomorrow will be four years to the day that Brazil swept Chile aside 3-0 in South Africa but things have changed a lot since then. Chile have matured as a side and have had their confidence boosted by successes against top European opposition. Their loss to Holland was minus Arturo Vidal and only down to a real weakness at the set piece and a counter very late on while trying to gain parity with the Dutch. Brazil have not been firing on all cylinders and aside from Neymar are a far cry from any Brazilian sides of the past continuing a trend in their football since 1986 of a marked decline in creativity and artistry. Scolari is fully aware of the threat posed by Chile and has tried to shuffle his forwards around in order to get something out of Fred. Oscar should be returned to his spot tucked in behind Fred and Neymar to get the best out of him but I fully expect the Brazilians to play a countering game to try and catch Chile on the break. One goal and it will be hard for them to come back indeed for any team in the knock out stages. He may employ once again Fernandinho as opposed to Ramires to try and negate Chile's busy midfield which sees Vargas and Sanchez and Vidal drop deep. Chile should look to exploit both full backs who have been appalling. Which makes the omission of Felipe Luis even more stark than at the start of the tournament. I hope Webb is not swayed by the home crowd as Mr.Nishimura was in the opening game handing Brazil three points.
Think Neymar will be the difference - again. Howard Webb has the game then - hopefully won't be influenced by the home support
Who else thinks the 1st penalty in the shoot out should have been retaken, the keeper was at least 2 yards off his line before the kick was taken! No wonder he saved it :
His leniency early on as at the World Cup final has lost him the chance of refereeing a quarter final. Fernandinho escaped booking twice and one of the Chileans for his knee to the back of Neymars knee. Other than that his team did well and were not fazed by the home support of the gesticulations of Hulk.
Fingers crossed. He and his team deserve it. The players always take liberties and the referee gets caught in the middle when they the players should know better. Another referee albeit in a amateur league was killed in NZ recently. Amazing how caught up some people get in matches and the first scapegoat for any failure is the referee. One thing all officials have failed to do which is a shame is to clamp down on tactical fouling and also simulation. Other than a few decisions the men in black and the linesmen barring the shocking miss from Wondolowski and a couple of marginal ones ie Emenike v France have done very well all told (Mr.Nishimura does not count ).
