Brazil's 10-match winning streak was ended by Ecuador in their final group game of the CONMEBOL Copa America 2021. But the defending champions still topped Group B with three wins in four outings. And they enter the knock-outs with renewed vigour, knowing too well that any slip up will end their title defence. (More Football News)
In contrast, Brazil's quarter-final opponents, Chile survived Group A elimination despite winning just one game. Chile have only one defeat in the last seven matches in all competitions (W2, D4). However, that defeat come in the last game, falling 0-2 to Paraguay.
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But their respective forms in the group stage will have little bearing in the knock-outs. Chile have been in the mixed in recent editions, winning back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016 (the Centenario), and they also finished fourth after losing to Argentina in the third-placed play-off in 2019.
Martin Lasarte's La Roja can still mount a serious title challenge despite the absence of mercurial Alexis Sanchez, who's still recuperating. In Arturo Vidal, they have a world-class operator, who can feed the likes of Ben Brereton and Eduardo Vargas.
For Brazil, it's another step towards their title defence. Unlike Chile, Selecao have no injury worries and Tite can field the strongest XI. In fact, Brazil are spoilt for choice. Such is the bundance in quality that as mnay as nine payers -- Marquinhos, Neymar, Gabriel Barbosa, Alex Sandro, Everton Ribeiro, Richarlison, Roberto Firmino, Casemiro and Eder Militao -- have scored in the grouo stage.
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The winners will take on either Peru or Paraguay, who face off in the first quarter-final.
Head-to-head: They have met 72 times with Brazil winning 51, as against Chile's eight. In the last meeting, Brazil beat Chile 3-0 (2017).
Brazil have also won the last four games against Chile in Copa America, scoring 11 goals in that period, while conceding only once. The last time Chile managed to score more than one goal against Brazil in the competition were in the 1993 edition (Chile 3-2 Brazil).
Match and telecast details
Match: Copa America 2021, 1st quarter-final match Brazil and Chile
Date: July 3 (Saturday), 2021
Time: 5:30 AM IST
Venue: Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
TV Channels: Sony Sports Network
Live Streaming: SonyLIV, Jio TV
Likely XIs
Brazil: Alisson Becker; Danilo, Eder Militao, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Lucas Pacqueta, Fred; Richarlison, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus
Chile: Claudio Bravo; Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Guillermo Maripan, Eugenio Mena; Erick Pulgar, Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz; Ben Brereton, Jean Meneses, Eduardo Vargas.
Squads
Brazil: GK - Alisson Becker, Weverton, Ederson; DF - Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro, Emerson, Eder Militao, Renan Lodi, Felipe; MF - Casemiro, Fred, Everton Ribeiro, Fabinho, Lucas Paqueta, Douglas Luiz; FW - Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Everton, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Barbosa.
Head coach: Tite
Chile: GK - Claudio Bravo, Gabriel Arias, Gabriel Castellon; DF - Eugenio Mena, Mauricio Isla, Enzo Roco, Francisco Sierralta, Daniel Gonzalez, Gary Medel, Sebastian Vegas; MF - Cesar Pinares, Arturo Vidal, Erick Pulgar, Pablo Galdames, Tomas Alarcon, Charles Aranguiz, Marcelino Nunez, Pablo Aranguiz, Claudio Baeza; FW - Diego Valencia, Jean Meneses, Alexis Sanchez, Eduardo Vargas, Felipe Mora, Carlos Palacios, Ben Brereton, Luciano Arriagada, Clemente Montes.
Head coach: Martin Lasarte
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Key stats
No other team have scored more goals from aerial attacks than Brazil in the current Copa America. In total, they have scored three headed goals.
No other Brazilian player has more touches in the opposition box than Richarlison (26). He is only surpassed in the current tournament by Uruguay's Luis Suarez (27).
