Brazil vs Colombia: World Cup 2014 match preview

A look ahead to the hosts’ encounter with the competition’s dark horses

Will it all come down to Neymar (left) vs James Rodriguez?

Brazil are set to face Colombia at Fortaleza in a match that promises plenty of excitement and action as there is no reason to hold back at this stage of the competition. The Colombians will be playing with probably a better mentality than the opposition as the Cafeteros have won all four of their matches thus far, which included a decisive victory against the highly competitive Uruguay.

Jose Pekerman’s side managed to make history without their star player Radamel Falcao and have featured upcoming talents such as Monaco attacking midfielder James Rodriguez, who is the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, and Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado. The coach will also be fortunate enough to have all hands on deck for this match.

Brazil have yet to completely convince the public as the absolute favourites in the competition they host as the Selecao barely beat Croatia in the opener, were stopped by Mexico and beat Chile on penalties thanks to an impressive display by QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

To make things worse, manager Luiz Felipe Scolari’s star player Neymar is dealing with a knee injury but the doctors are confident he will be able to play. However, Wolfsburg defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo is suspended and the coach might turn the formation to the one he used in 2002 with three central defenders.

KICK-OFF: Friday, 9pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Brazil 1 (Neymar) Colombia 1 (Cuadrado), International Friendly, November 2012

Brazil 0 Colombia 0, World Cup Qualifiers, October 2008

Colombia 0 Brazil 0, World Cup Qualifiers, October 2007

STATS…

Brazil and Colombia have faced off 14 times where the Selecao have won seven matches and lost only once. This is however the very first time those two meet at the Word Cup finals.

The Brazilians have only lost one out of their last 16 World Cup games where they have scored first.

Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has never lost a World Cup match with Brazil.

All of the competition’s group stage winners managed to qualify to the quarter-finals.

Colombia have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time ever.

The Cafeteros’ attacking midfielder James Rodriguez is the first player to have scored in all of his first four World Cup games since Italy’s Christian Vieri in 1998.

ODDS…

Brazil to win: 17.20

Colombia to win: 15.4

Draw: 13.5

TV: Live on ITV at 9pm