By DAN KARELL
Brazil is just four games away from World Cup glory but before it can make the final in the Maracana, it has to face arguably its greatest challenge of the tournament.
South American rivals Chile meets host Brazil (12 p.m. ABC) at the Estadio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, pitting the likes of Alexis Sanchez against Neymar. Chile’s in-your-face attacking style will be tough for Brazil to match but Brazil does have the advantage in set pieces and on counter attacks. Fernandinho has taken the place of Paulinho in Brazil’s squad, possibly gproviding a look at Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s fear of Chile’s attacking prowess.
In the second match of the day, Uruguay is set to rally around the loss of Luis Suarez when it takes on the high-flying Colombians (4 p.m. ABC) at the Maracana in Rio De Janeiro. James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado, and Los Cafeteros have dismantled their first three opponents but they’ll be running into the brick wall that is Diego Lugano and Diego Godin.
If Colombia wins, it would be the first time it has ever made it to the quarterfinals in the nation’s history. Uruguay will be playing with the spirit of the 1950 team that won the World Cup final over Brazil in the Maracana, making this game full of energy and emotion.
If you will be watching today’s matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
The MLS could have come out of this WC group stage sparkling, if only Honduras would’ve done better.
This was meant to be a reply to ben in el cajon’s reply to reignman.
Every time an Uruguayan player is touched he falls, and every time they fall the ref buys it and calls a foul for them. I am glad I won’t have to see them again until Copa America 2015.
Nice attempt, but a better save by the Colombian goalkeeper. If you’re taping, watch highlights of the two goals and the last 15 minutes.
Where is Pfizer, makers of the little blue pill, located?
James Rodriguez is having some kind of tournament, bit of a shame he’s in Ligue 1, wish I could watch him more regularly.
BeIn sports carries some French games, if you are lucky enough to have the right access. I’m looking forward to getting more leagues here–this tournament has convinced me that if I watch mostly Premier League, I’m not watching the best soccer.
Oh My God. Rodriguez. That goal made the match worth watching.
For sure.
wow nice kick
Is anyone else annoyed by the entire Uruguayan team for the way that have claimed persecution? I have no doubt, being from the US, that FIFA decisions are not always completely fair, but still–admit your guy was an idiot and move on.
Colombia v. Uruguay is sort of toothless so far . . .
Everything in life comes full circle. Such a shockingly horrible Brazil side will NOT win the World Cup.
They are just not good enough, and that’s an understatement.
Scolari made the wrong selections for this team, imo.
Brazil has no one in the center to hold the ball. Not beautiful.
MLS wins it for Brazil!
The goal post was made in the US?
Brazil won the shoot-out 5-4?
Julio! Viva MLS!
man that shootout stuff is intense
one of the to few teams imo in the tournament is out. hit the post! feel bad or Chile, I’ll miss not watching them anymore this summer, been a treat
*one of the few teams imo
*one of the few BEST teams
Actually, I am glad I won’t have to see them flopping anymore.
didn’t see them as floppers at all but instead hard workers and organized…always interesting how folks can watch the same things yet see different things
Dude they were rolling on the ground constantly, even off the ball. An the last 30 minutes playing to go to shootout, I just don’t like teams that play for pk shootout. They lost me at that point.
Dude? good one
anyway, watched all of the games this tournament, Chile was for me one of the most entertaining teams to watch because of their style of play
so we disagree.
Sad to see that with a such a word cup with so many awesome teams and so many awesome games some people still find a way to whine about things they made up in their own minds.
BTW, how can you complain about diving and not mention Neymar.
Probably a Brazil fan
No I am not a Brazil fan, but I don’t hate them like you. How could you not see the Chilean players flopping all game long. There’s even an instance two were flopping like fish at the same time wasting time to get to pk shootout. I know it is a tactic, but I personally dislike teams that play to reach the shootout. They lost me at that point.
Anyone else sick of this new troll Paul Terry? Will be delighted when these guys find some other site to ruin once this world cup is over.
I didn’t know you owned this site.
he doesn’t own it but he has a good point
I was thinking the same thing
Well, what can you say? When you play for pks, you simply may just lose. Having said that, it took me all this long to realize, but this Brazil team is really bad. Bad selection by Scolari.
exhilarating!
The body language is in Brazils favor
You may be onto something here. First 2 attempts from Chile were mediocre (and credit to Caesar).
And now it’s tied. Great drama
Neymar to miss a penalty????
lol…hater.
ha hah brazil isnt winning world cup
Most teams that won the WC had to win a pk shootout. This may be the one for Brazil. But, this team just doesn’t have it, I have to say about Brazil.
Best world cup in 20 years in terms of excitement.
Yeah, Brazil is horrible.
there it was in the 120th minute for Chile! Pinilla denied by the crossbar, wow
I was hoping for a stunner from Chile and raised my arms only to feel the agony of the post.
Jo is terrible. WOW. How is this guy playing for a team like Brazil? Jozy would be a huge improvement over both their strikers.
i think ur right
According to some Jozy shouldn’t even play for the US.
Hulk has had zero help the last 60 minutes
Best refereed game of the tournament so far.
This Brazilian side is good but there is now way Kaka, Lucas Moura and Lucas Leiva aren’t all better options than Joe and Paullinho and Fernandinho
Agree. I never liked Scolari’s selection of these players.
Brazil is a 3rd rate garbage side; they were exposed as early as the 1st game v. Croatia.
You cannot win the World Cup with Fred and Joe. Thrash, absolute thrash this team is.
Credit to Webb today; with the Japanese referee on duty, this would have been 3:1 game over.
Come on Chile!
“You cannot win the World Cup with Fred and Joe.”
They’d be better off with Betty and Wilma.
Ahh drop it already with the refs and Brazil. They are bad near garbage, I agree. But, there’s no conspiracy to have them advance or win. Otherwise, what about today’s non-called pk at the beginning and the disallowed goal by hulk?
Think the replay shows Hulk trapped the ball with his bicep. Watching the play unfold, thought the goal was legit. Seeing the replay, looks like he controlled with his arm. Still well taken strike.
Cheers
I am only saying that if there was a conspiracy of sorts to favor Brazil, that goal would’ve never been disallowed.
Brazil looks out of shape.
Now Brasil is turning it on, or at least trying to. They do not look good most of the time, but man can they fly when needed.
Brazil is highly overrated. Oscar has been shutdown today. Plus look at their yellow card accumulation. Hulk has played well. Tough handball. The problem with most soccer analysis in the US is you have a bunch of guys that rely on rule of thumb thinking instead of objective analysis. Brazil won’t when this cup. If they were playing Germany now they would be down at least 2 goals.
And that is why I always shake my head whenever I see Jo warming up. What is Scolari thinking? He should play a false 9, because his striking options are pretty mediocre.
Is it just me, or does Brazil look nervous? They aren’t passing well, moving off the ball, combining, or using any invention. They look terrible, and I think even if they end up winning this game, they’re not going to win this tournament.
I think they do too, and also believe the way Chile plays makes you nervous; they are an excellent defensive team that tries to make you play against their strengths–speed, quickness, movement, swarming pressure–instead of against their weaknesses physically in their defensive area
Agreed. Great observation, they press all over the field, especially right after they lose possession. Chile is a great side, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win.
Seems like, with the exception of Hulk’s chance, this half the final Brazil pass or shot isn’t precise for sure.
I thought he used his bicep to control the ball. Still great finish!
right on, hard to tell from the replays I saw. either way,big call goes against Brazil
and what a save by Cesar!
D
Did Hulk get stiffed on that handball call?
looked like a legit goal to me…anyone else see it differently?
He trapped the initial ball with his bicep. Pretty clear from a few angles, one in particular.
thanks, I don’t have the DVR working so can’t replay it
I thought it was legit in real time, but ESPN showed the replay.
Watching this game with both teams playing attacking soccer shows that our system is the best
.
Saw the schedule for today and thought “Copa America?”
Brazil looks strong and up for this, but they are not “in control” like the announcers are saying. They still look a little sloppy, like they just expect to win, and Chile makes them pay. 1 – 1.
And Neymar bugs the crap out of me. Vamos Chile!
Brazil’s starting lineup:
Fred—–Neymar—-Hulk
Oscar—Gustavo—Roza
Marcelo—Ruiz—Silva—Alvez
———H. Webb—————
Hahaha. These national anthems are all trash.
Why?
they gave me goose bumps
Super excited for these games today, even though I’m not rooting for any team in particular.
Same. A clash of two heavyweights of the modern game.