Brazil have never lost at home to Chile in 26 meetings spanning 95 years, but they are all too aware of how difficult it will be to extend that record.
Chile's aggressive pressing and fluid attacking style means that, at their best, they are irresistible to watch and near-impossible to contain. Just ask dethroned world champions Spain.
Chile lost 3-0 to Brazil at the same stage four years ago to the day of this game - their third World Cup defeat out of three meetings between the nations - but Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is not fooled.
"Statistics mean nothing," he said. "I believe since coach (Jorge) Sampaoli arrived, the Chile team have a new dynamism, a much better performance. The players have adapted to the scheme he thinks best and they adapted perfectly."
Scolari has openly admitted he would have preferred not to face Chile, particularly with his side labouring for much of the group stage. The five-time champions are almost obligated to win a sixth title, such is the expectation of them among Brazil's public, and Scolari admitted: "I try to transmit my confidence. But no one can be at ease.
"It is normal for us to feel that we have some problem, something that makes us anxious especially now in the knockout stage where we cannot lose. Not because it is in Brazil but because it is a World Cup. You only get the chance to get to the final if you win."
Chile have not reached the quarter-finals since they hosted the tournament in 1962. However, the current side are not lacking in belief.
Star player Alexis Sanchez said: "We have respect for them, but I think we are going to beat them. We came to this World Cup to make history. We beat the world champions, and although we had a slip-up against Holland, we are going out to try and win the Cup."
Chile certainly have the host nation worried. Coach Sampaoli suspended training on Thursday when a helicopter from Brazilian television station O Globo hovered over the pitch as he was working on tactics. The helicopter eventually took flight but Chile will be vying to ground Brazil on Saturday.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Brazil are unbeaten in their last 12 games (W10, D2) against Chile since a 3-0 away defeat in a World Cup qualifier in August 2000.
Brazil have won all three World Cup meetings: 4-2 in 1962, 4-1 in 1998 and 3-0 in 2010 exactly four years ago to the day of Saturday's match.
Chile have only beaten Brazil seven times in 68 attempts, drawing 13 and losing 48. Four of those Chile wins came in competitive matches.
The nations last met on 20 November 2013 in a friendly in Toronto, when Brazil beat Chile 2-1. Hulk and Robinho scored either side of an Eduardo Vargas equaliser for Chile.
Brazil
Brazil have won their last five second-round matches at the World Cup since a 1-0 defeat by Argentina in 1990.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side have won 11 of their last 12 matches, the exception being a goalless draw with Mexico in the group stage.
Their only defeat in the last 24 games came against Switzerland last August (W18, D5, L1)
Brazil are now unbeaten in 40 successive home matches, with their last defeat coming against Paraguay in August 2002.
Their last competitive defeat at home was 3-1 to Peru in the 1975 Copa America semi-final.
Neymar has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for Brazil, including 26 goals in his last 31 caps. He is now sixth on Brazil's all-time top scorer list, trailing only Bebeto (39), Zico (48), Romario (55), Ronaldo (62) and Pele (77).
According to Prozone statistics, Fred was only in possession of the ball for seven seconds during the victory over Cameroon last time out, despite completing the 90 minutes.
Chile
Chile have lost each of their previous second-round fixtures at the World Cup, both against Brazil (0-3 in 2010 and 1-4 in 1998).
They have also been defeated in their previous four World Cup matches against fellow South American sides, conceding at least three goals every match (14 goals in total).
Their only victory in a World Cup knockout game (excluding the 1962 third-place play-off), was against Soviet Union in the quarter-finals of that tournament.
Eduardo Vargas has scored in each of his last two appearances for Chile against Brazil, including a goal in Belo Horizonte in April 2013.
A win for Chile is up in the air...
What a shocker that would be. A real dagger blow to millions of passionate Brazilians.
Chile's aggressive pressing and fluid attacking style means that, at their best, they are irresistible to watch and near-impossible to contain. Just ask dethroned world champions Spain.
Chile lost 3-0 to Brazil at the same stage four years ago to the day of this game - their third World Cup defeat out of three meetings between the nations - but Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is not fooled.
"Statistics mean nothing," he said. "I believe since coach (Jorge) Sampaoli arrived, the Chile team have a new dynamism, a much better performance. The players have adapted to the scheme he thinks best and they adapted perfectly."
Scolari has openly admitted he would have preferred not to face Chile, particularly with his side labouring for much of the group stage. The five-time champions are almost obligated to win a sixth title, such is the expectation of them among Brazil's public, and Scolari admitted: "I try to transmit my confidence. But no one can be at ease.
"It is normal for us to feel that we have some problem, something that makes us anxious especially now in the knockout stage where we cannot lose. Not because it is in Brazil but because it is a World Cup. You only get the chance to get to the final if you win."
Chile have not reached the quarter-finals since they hosted the tournament in 1962. However, the current side are not lacking in belief.
Star player Alexis Sanchez said: "We have respect for them, but I think we are going to beat them. We came to this World Cup to make history. We beat the world champions, and although we had a slip-up against Holland, we are going out to try and win the Cup."
Chile certainly have the host nation worried. Coach Sampaoli suspended training on Thursday when a helicopter from Brazilian television station O Globo hovered over the pitch as he was working on tactics. The helicopter eventually took flight but Chile will be vying to ground Brazil on Saturday.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Brazil are unbeaten in their last 12 games (W10, D2) against Chile since a 3-0 away defeat in a World Cup qualifier in August 2000.
Brazil have won all three World Cup meetings: 4-2 in 1962, 4-1 in 1998 and 3-0 in 2010 exactly four years ago to the day of Saturday's match.
Chile have only beaten Brazil seven times in 68 attempts, drawing 13 and losing 48. Four of those Chile wins came in competitive matches.
The nations last met on 20 November 2013 in a friendly in Toronto, when Brazil beat Chile 2-1. Hulk and Robinho scored either side of an Eduardo Vargas equaliser for Chile.
Brazil
Brazil have won their last five second-round matches at the World Cup since a 1-0 defeat by Argentina in 1990.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side have won 11 of their last 12 matches, the exception being a goalless draw with Mexico in the group stage.
Their only defeat in the last 24 games came against Switzerland last August (W18, D5, L1)
Brazil are now unbeaten in 40 successive home matches, with their last defeat coming against Paraguay in August 2002.
Their last competitive defeat at home was 3-1 to Peru in the 1975 Copa America semi-final.
Neymar has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for Brazil, including 26 goals in his last 31 caps. He is now sixth on Brazil's all-time top scorer list, trailing only Bebeto (39), Zico (48), Romario (55), Ronaldo (62) and Pele (77).
According to Prozone statistics, Fred was only in possession of the ball for seven seconds during the victory over Cameroon last time out, despite completing the 90 minutes.
Chile
Chile have lost each of their previous second-round fixtures at the World Cup, both against Brazil (0-3 in 2010 and 1-4 in 1998).
They have also been defeated in their previous four World Cup matches against fellow South American sides, conceding at least three goals every match (14 goals in total).
Their only victory in a World Cup knockout game (excluding the 1962 third-place play-off), was against Soviet Union in the quarter-finals of that tournament.
Eduardo Vargas has scored in each of his last two appearances for Chile against Brazil, including a goal in Belo Horizonte in April 2013.
A win for Chile is up in the air...
What a shocker that would be. A real dagger blow to millions of passionate Brazilians.
posted from Bloggeroid
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